Overview
(June 11, 2024, Washington, DC) – Steptoe LLP is pleased to announce that it has been once again recognized as a platinum-level donor in D.C. Access to Justice's 2023 Raising the Bar Campaign. The platinum-level is the top tier of the campaign which honors firms that have donated at least .11% of D.C. office revenue toward DC-based legal services providers. In 2023, firms donated a record $6.6 million to organizations that serve low-income District residents with legal needs. The Raising the Bar campaign launched in 2010, setting a standard for area law firms to aspire to when giving to civil legal services organizations.
Peter B. Edelman, Chair of the D.C. Access to Justice Commission said, "The enduring commitment of D.C. law firms to supporting our civil justice system has resulted in a robust public-private partnership, and we will continue to work together toward ensuring all D.C. residents, regardless of income, have access to justice."
Among the core missions of the D.C. Access to Justice Commission is to encourage funding for local civil legal services. The Commission's signature effort around private funding is the Raising the Bar in D.C. Campaign, which recognizes financial support provided by area law firms to local legal services organizations.
Public service at Steptoe is an integral part of our history, ethos, and operations. The principle of increasing access to justice guides our pro bono efforts. Many pro bono matters handled by Steptoe lawyers involve significant legal issues with far-reaching effects, such as race, age, gender, sexual orientation, and disability discrimination; human rights; freedom of speech; prisoners' rights; and voting rights. We also assist local, national, and international nonprofit organizations that contribute to advances in fields like health, education, economic development, homelessness, and the environment.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.