Over 60 years ago, the Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) 372 U.S. 335 recognized the “obvious truth” that a defendant who is too poor to hire a lawyer cannot be assured a fair trial unless legal counsel is provided. While the Supreme Court has, generally, only extended the right to counsel to criminal proceedings, in California and elsewhere there is growing movement to provide free legal counsel as a matter of right to indigent litigants in matters where basic human needs are at stake.

For example, in 2009 the California Legislature adopted the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel Act (AB 590), which recognized the need for indigent civil litigants in California to be represented by legal counsel in civil matters involving critical issues affecting basic human needs. While access to legal services can be pivotal to people's ability to access and maintain basic needs such as employment rights, housing access, immigration legal services, and health care services —too often a litigant’s lack of funds can stand in the way to their access to justice.

Continuing this trend to support legal services for the indigent, in 2024 Governor Newsom signed into law AB 2505, which provides that

[I]t has been the tradition of those learned in the law and licensed to practice law in this state to provide voluntary pro bono legal services to those who cannot afford the help of a lawyer and . . . . that every lawyer authorized and privileged to practice law in California is expected to make a contribution, whether by directly providing pro bono legal services or, if that is not feasible, by providing financial support to organizations providing free legal services to persons of limited means . . . .

To fulfill this commitment, AB 2505 provides that, effective January 1, 2026, all California lawyers are required to report annually whether they have provided pro bono legal services and certain other information through the licensee’s My State Bar online profile on the State Bar’s internet website.

One law firm with a strong Marin presence, Hanson Bridgett LLP, founded in 1958, with an office on Fourth Street in San Rafael, has set the standard for providing pro bono legal services to those in need. As a result, many of its lawyers will face little difficulty in completing these new state bar pro bono reporting requirements. The firm provides 150 hours of credit to associates who work on approved pro bono matters. In addition, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the firm saw a need to expand its commitment to pro bono legal services and created the position of Director of Pro Bono and Social Impact, held by Samir Abdelnour.

Samir, who had been a Hanson Bridgett environmental partner with a strong involvement in pro bono work, coordinates the firm’s pro bono legal services, including by working to nurture and expand the firm’s relationships with public interest legal organizations, including Legal Aid of Marin, Central Legal La Raza in Oakland, and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the SF Bay Area (LCCRSF).

Intimidation tactics by the Trump Administration has also not discouraged the firm’s pro bono efforts. “Not only have we not backed off, we’ve ramped up our efforts,” Samir explained, including by working with LCCRSF to develop legal materials for use by nonprofits and other organizations in order to continue their efforts providing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that are in compliance with an evolving legal landscape.

Many Hanson Bridgett attorneys have a strong personal commitment to pro bono, which is fostered by firm leadership. For example, Marin-based partner Andrew Giacomini, a long-time managing partner of the firm, has a long track record of supporting important causes for the underrepresented. In 2024, on a pro bono basis, Andrew helped finalize the sale of the property that houses the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center, a 50-year-old institution that provides early childcare and education to children, supporting a diverse population of under-resourced families and children.

More recently, Andrew led a team of lawyers, including partner Patrick Burns, counsel Alene Taber, and associate Bianca Velez, in bringing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of a large number of agricultural workers in west Marin who have been threatened with displacement due to a settlement between environmental groups and ranchers to close the historic ranches located at Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Their lawsuit, Does 1-150 v. U.S. Department of the Interior, et al., alleges constitutional equal protection and due process violations, violations of the federal Fair Housing Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and other claims.

Bianca describes her work on the Pt. Reyes case as “an incredible opportunity” to help marginalized people, which motivated her to attend law school in the first place. “While it may not have been sustainable for me to work entirely in public interest, this allows me to work at a firm that prioritizes pro bono work and makes me feel great about the work I do.” It also allows her to gain valuable litigation experience that she normally would not obtain on her regular billable work.

Elisha Yang, senior counsel at Hanson Bridgett (and MCBA board member), shares Bianca’s enthusiasm for doing pro bono work. Elisha, who primarily handles transactional work in a broad array of commercial and real estate matters, regularly takes on pro bono matters that require her real estate or corporate experience. For example, she has worked with two local churches on real estate matters and assisted small business owners from underserved communities with leases. In addition, while in her regular practice she typically represents landlords, her pro bono work enables her to gain useful experience on behalf of tenants in unlawful detainer and other matters. “As a firm culture, we do like to encourage lawyers at all levels to do community work,” adds Elisha, who, in addition to her pro bono and volunteer work with MCBA, volunteers for various affinity bar associations.

As Elisha explains, “My life mission is to break the stigma attached to lawyers among immigrant community members that you only need a lawyer when you’re in trouble. Instead, I want them to know a lawyer can be on their side and advocate for them in other instances as well — including when building their businesses.”

Hanson Bridgett’s commitment to pro bono work doesn’t just make for happy lawyers – it has earned national recognition. For three years in a row (2022-2025) Hanson Bridgett has been the recipient of the Beacon of Justice Award by the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. In 2025 it was recognized by OneJustice as Co-Champion of Justice and by Centro Legal de la Raza as Campeones de Justicia (“Champions of Justice”). Hanson Bridgett’s accolades send a strong message: The firm’s success is not despite its pro bono commitment, but because of it.