Pro Bono

At Downey Brand, public service is not just a tradition—it’s a core value. Our robust pro bono program reflects a longstanding commitment to giving back to the communities where we live and work. Each year, many of our attorneys devote their time and skills to address a wide range of unmet legal needs, supporting both individuals and organizations.

This commitment goes beyond obligation—we view pro bono work as a vital opportunity to create meaningful impact. Whether advocating for underserved individuals or assisting nonprofits with critical legal needs, our attorneys are encouraged to take on matters that align with their values and interests. These experiences not only help strengthen communities but also foster personal growth, sharpen legal skills, and promote collaboration across practice areas.

For newer attorneys, pro bono work often serves as a valuable training ground. With the support and mentorship of more senior lawyers, they’re able to take the lead on impactful cases, gaining hands-on experience while ensuring every client receives the highest level of care and attention. That spirit of teamwork and shared purpose is central to our approach.

Our Pro Bono Services

Our pro bono program focuses on a wide range of civil matters that help improve access to justice, from housing rights and healthcare access to immigration advocacy and nonprofit support. We collaborate closely with local organizations and community partners to ensure we’re addressing the most pressing legal needs in our communities. While we support a wide range of legal matters, we generally do not take on cases involving criminal defense, family law, residential foreclosure, or consumer bankruptcy.

If you have any questions about our pro bono program or would like to learn more, please reach out to Michael Montgomery, assistant to the firm’s pro bono coordinator, at [email protected] or 916.520.5413.

We’re proud to partner with community organizations and legal services providers to deliver real results:

  • We led the organization of a pro bono estate planning clinic, which began in March 2017, to provide free services to low-income residents of the Greater Sacramento Area. Volunteer attorneys assist qualifying clients with preparing financial powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and simple wills. The clinic operates one Monday evening monthly, by appointment only, from the Capital Pro Bono (formerly the Voluntary Legal Services Program) offices at 1860 Howe Avenue, Suite 130, in Sacramento. Interested members of the public may call Capital Pro Bono at 916-551-2102 for more information.
  • Our lawyers have staffed the “Lawyers in the Library” project at the Sacramento County Public Law Library one or two evenings each month since May 2011. For more information, see http://www.saclaw.org/self-help/lawyers-in-the-library/.
  • Our attorneys have represented parties in landlord-tenant mediations through the Pacific McGeorge Housing Mediation Center.
  • We have taken select immigration law matters through the University of California Davis School of Law Immigration Clinic. For more information, see http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/academics-clinicals/immigration-law-clinic.html.
  • We have worked on child advocacy matters through the Sacramento Child Advocates and its successor, the Children’s Law Center, as well as the Youth Law Center
  • In partnership with Disability Rights California, we successfully represented claimants in administrative hearings seeking Community Based Adult Services from the Department of Health Care Services.
  • We participate in the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit Lawyer Referral Panel, which focuses on immigration, prisoner rights, and other civil rights cases.
  • We are part of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California Pro Bono Panel, which focuses primarily on prisoner rights cases, and the Voluntary Dispute Resolution Program.
  • Many of the firm’s lawyers are actively involved with local and California bar sections, focusing on improving the legal system.

Pro Bono News

Expanding Digital Access for Foster Youth

Attorneys Christopher Marelich and Michael Day represented the Youth Law Center before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in its Petition to Modify the California LifeLine Foster Youth Program, which previously limited access to cell phones for foster youth due to excessive eligibility and process requirements.

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Kristin Capritto Honored with KIND’s 2025 KINDness Matters Award

Downey Brand congratulates attorney Kristin Capritto on being named one of Kids in Need of Defense’s (KIND) 2025 Pro Bono Award honorees. KIND has recognized Kristin with its KINDness Matters Award for her exceptional dedication to representing unaccompanied children seeking safety in the United States.

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