Pro Bono

Forman Watkins & Krutz is committed to our local communities and gives back in ways that are tangible and effective right here in our local footprint. The Firm believes that pro bono service is an important and essential element of every attorney's professional responsibility. Attorneys possess unique skills and abilities to serve the disadvantaged while promoting public interests in ways no other profession is able. FormanWatkins, therefore, encourages and facilitates ways for its attorneys to render pro bono legal services to the poor and participate, to the extent possible, in other pro bono service activities that directly relate to the legal needs of the poor, disenfranchised, and disadvantaged.

That's why, in the last two years alone, dozens of attorneys and staff have spent thousands of hours engaging in the issues that matter to them and their communities, from arguing immigration matters at the Fifth Circuit to representing children at hearings in juvenile court. On behalf of pro bono clients, our team has conducted trials, drafted appeals, filed petitions, influenced policies, and launched legal clinics.  We have deepened our partnerships with the organizations doing important pro bono work.

FormanWatkins attorneys know the importance of using their talents to assist our fellow community members that may not be able to afford quality legal assistance. The opportunity, encouragement, and resources for this level of service are woven into our firm culture, providing all our attorneys the opportunity and the means to use their talents for the benefit of those who most need them. Each year, FormanWatkins provides hours of pro bono legal service to our local communities. We maintain active memberships and leadership roles in various organizations such as the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project, Mississippi Center for Legal Services, and Mississippi Access to Justice Commission, while continuously searching for and identifying new opportunities to serve our communities.

Civic Engagement

FormanWatkins is deeply committed to giving back to our local communities in a meaningful way. Our attorneys and support staff are not only encouraged to participate in community endeavors; they are provided firm support through both financial resources and manpower. Recognizing the importance of consistency and reliability, we strive to nurture and maintain our commitment to the organizations we serve.

We believe that compassion is vital to our community work, and we seek projects that allow us to actively engage with those in need. Every quarter, FormanWatkins assists in serving lunch at our local Stewpot Kitchen. Additionally, Forman Watkins is an avid supporter of Habitat for Humanity, and our team works on multiple projects throughout the year. Our "Forman Watkins Day of Pink" celebrates members of our firm who are currently battling breast cancer, as well as our breast cancer survivors. We collect magazines, books, blankets, hats, and other items to donate to a local cancer treatment facility. Likewise, each year we partner with the Adopt-An-Angel program and provide Christmas presents for families in need. While we remain committed to our ongoing projects, we realize that there are times when we must employ our creativity and react quickly to aid in disaster relief. For example, after tornadoes devastated multiple areas of Mississippi and left thousands without homes, the staff and attorneys in our Jackson, MS office joined together in friendly competition to donate over 15,000 bottles of water to the American Red Cross of Mississippi.

FormanWatkins believes in sharing our talents and resources to support those in need within the communities where we work and live.

During National Pro Bono Week, FormanWatkins attorneys shared why Pro Bono work is important to the firm.

 

A look back at some of FormanWatkins' most significant Pro Bono cases.

 

The power and purpose of Pro Bono.

 


View our recent Pro Bono & Civic Engagement Annual Reports:

 

 

Forman Watkins pro bono work 2019