An Interconnected Future

We know that our future is profoundly linked with the welfare of the communities and clients we serve, the well-being of our workforce, and the health of our environment. Through actions, advocacy, and philanthropy, we are resolved to be a vigilant steward for the public good, to advocate for the vulnerable, and to implement other responsible business practices.

We are proud to join in common cause with our clients and community partners on life-changing pro bono and community service work. We strive internally to make our firm more sustainable, and we share knowledge and expertise through our ESG & Sustainability Advisory practice to help our clients do the same. We stand arm-in-arm with those clients and other partners to confront a rising tide of social injustice and to protect human rights and civil liberties. And we joyfully celebrate our diversity as well as that of our clients, nurturing welcoming and inclusive spaces within our organizations.

There is much work to be done. And the fact is, this work has no expiration date. We are dedicated to ongoing and rigorous progress for our next 150 years, the values of our past informing the positive actions of our future. Because what we do today matters for all of our tomorrows.

Jami McKeon
Chair of the Firm

We set goals, chart our course, and take action. 2022 marked the fifth consecutive year that every single Morgan Lewis lawyer met—and many far exceeded—our firm’s goal of devoting at least 20 billable hours to pro bono activity.

We represent low-income and marginalized people in many critical areas, including immigration, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, veterans rights, child advocacy, eviction defense, criminal reform, food insecurity, and access to healthcare and education.

Serving Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Our firm helps refugees and asylum seekers fleeing persecution or violence in their home countries. We provide vital pro bono legal services, often with our commercial clients, including applications for asylum, adjustment-of-status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) applications, green cards, and U and T visas. We help individuals escaping threats and violence because of their speech in support of opposition political leaders or because they revealed government atrocities. We represent those fleeing religious persecution; those who are subject to violence because of their membership in the LGBTQ+ community; and victims of gang violence, rape, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Defending & Promoting LGBTQ+ Rights

We are committed to advocating for and protecting the rights of those in the LGBTQ+ community who have experienced persecution. We’ve worked with dozens of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers leaving behind homes, families, and histories in Turkey, Venezuela, Jamaica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and other countries, often in partnership with Immigration Equality.

Our service in this area is well documented, including accomplishing the following on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community:

Mobilizing for Equality

During the three years since the May 2020 murder of George Floyd at the hands of an on-duty police officer, our lawyers and professional staff have gone all-in to support racial justice through Mobilizing for Equality (MFE), our targeted approach to confronting the intractable global issue of systemic racism. Organized around 12 working groups powered by hundreds of personnel, MFE directly, effectively, and aggressively fights racial injustice.

MFE protected voters’ rights in two battleground states during the 2020 US presidential election, provided guidance on access to capital for minority businesses, and helped pass a police-reform ballot initiative in San Francisco. We have inspired families to have impactful conversations on race through our “Equality Starts at Home Challenge,” promoted awareness through a racial justice–themed book drive, and partnered and volunteered with an organization supporting entrepreneurial training of at-risk high school students.

Supporting Occupational Well-Being

We offer our associates in particular the tools to become accomplished, successful lawyers and support their long-term career goals through one-on-one coaching, mentoring, and formalized training. Our Associate Academies bring together associates from across practices and offices to focus on professional and personal development. Over the last five years, more than 1,800 of our associates have participated—learning about team management; client service and development; and diversity, leadership, and resilience, among other key topics. Relationships matter, and these academies provide an incredible opportunity to build lasting connections with firm leadership, clients, and peers while developing critical skills.

Through our Morgan Lewis Institute, we provide ongoing professional skills training that is specifically tailored to an associate’s level of seniority, including on topics such as legal writing, communication and presentation skills, time management, and well-being.

We also provide customized, substantive training for our associates through ongoing formal programs, mentoring, shadowing, and academies such as our Morgan Lewis Trial Academy during which associates practice “on their feet” skills and sharpen their trial advocacy acumen.