Earlier this month, WRVB Principal and Hampton Roads Firms in Service Chair, Jennifer Eaton coordinated the Hampton Roads Firms in Service’s First Annual Pro Bono Certificate Program for summer associates and legal interns.

The program is comprised of two sessions, totaling five hours of training time. The program introduces participants to pro bono work and provides training to enable and inspire pro bono contributions upon law school graduation. Jennifer, along with program liaison Tricia Batson of Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia, successfully provided this training to legal interns and summer associates across Hampton Roads.

On June 23, the group gathered for the certificate presentation ceremony. They were honored to welcome Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn of the Supreme Court of Virginia to provide opening remarks at the ceremony. His words echoed the important sentiment that the graduates can make a difference in closing the Justice Gap through pro bono service. With their new training, the graduates are now prepared to take on pro bono matters as soon as they pass the bar exam.

The Hampton Roads Firms in Service Committee plans to continue offering the program on an annual basis.