Pro Bono Counsel

Lathrop GPM, one of the nation's leading law firms, has an immediate opening for a Pro Bono Counsel in our Kansas City, MO office.

Lathrop GPM is a full-service, Am Law 200 law firm with offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Overland Park, St. Cloud, St. Louis, San Jose, Redwood Shores and Washington, D.C. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a professional, challenging, yet comfortable hybrid working environment.

MANAGE THE FIRM'S PRO BONO PROGRAM

• Determine individual attorneys' and paralegals' specific interests in pro bono areas of law and ensure that potential pro bono projects would qualify under the firm's definition of pro bono work;
• Match individuals with pro bono opportunities, and with other attorneys, in accordance with their areas of interest;
• Seek out and disseminate information on a variety of pro bono opportunities and evaluate requests for pro bono services;
• Approve incoming pro bono matters;
• Organize teams of attorneys and legal assistants to handle large pro bono matters;
• Report to those who evaluate performance and compensation the names of attorneys and legal assistants who performed pro bono services, the nature of the pro bono work, and the number of hours performed by each;
• Encourage individuals to attend training programs pertaining to pro bono areas of law, including continuing legal education seminars, and arrange for in-house training programs where appropriate;
• Meet with new attorneys to provide an overview of the firm's pro bono program;
• Work with the firm's Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Committee to advance the firm's diversity initiatives through pro bono work;
• Provide information about pro bono hours, number of matters and descriptions of pro bono projects for RFPs as requested;
• Provide administrative support to the pro bono committee including scheduling pro bono committee meetings, drafting the agenda and leading the meetings;
• Review pro bono prebills to monitor number of individual attorney hours being spent on pro bono matters;
• Report hours at the request of pro bono partners when required for their grant funding;
• Report to the firm, on an annual basis, the following information:
  • A description of the pro bono services donated to the community during the past year, including identifying organizations served;
  • The total number of hours of pro bono service performed by the firm during the past;
  • A statement of whether the firm's goals for the delivery of pro bono services have been fulfilled during the past year, and whether the firm needs to encourage principals, associates and/or legal assistants to deliver more pro bono services during the next year.

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT WITH EXTERNAL PARTNERS

• Act as liaison to, and develop ongoing relationships with, non-profit, public interest, charitable and other community organizations in need of pro bono legal services;
• Publicize within the firm the pro bono activities of individual attorneys and paralegals, and publicize in the community (when appropriate) the pro bono activities of the firm;
• Provide back-up support to juvenile court matters up to 50% of the time.

Minimum Requirements

• Active Missouri law license.
• At least 10 years of litigation experience in juvenile court. Law firm experience is a plus.
• Solid understanding of the practice of law and excellent litigation skills.
• A proven ability to manage a significant caseload, maintain calendaring and docketing system due to high volume of cases and statutory time frames, and function independently.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, and Westlaw.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Highly professional with a strong customer service orientation, commitment to meeting deadlines, and ability to multitask in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Strong professional, independent thinking skills with strength in problem solving and the ability to offer constructive opinions and creative solutions.
• A team player who motivates and educates other team members.

Essential Core Competencies

• Ability to problem-solve.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in a virtual environment (e.g., via phone, web/videoconference).
• Ability to concentrate on tasks, make decisions and work calmly and effectively in a high-pressure, deadline-orientated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to use good judgment in taking initiative while asking for direction or clarification and consulting others, as appropriate.
• Willingness to be flexible with time and adjust to a changing work environment.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships, both internally and externally, while maintaining a client service orientation.
• Ability to use sound judgment and discretion in dealing with highly confidential information.
• Ability to maintain stamina throughout a standard workday, on- and off-site.
• Ability to maintain regular attendance and work regularly scheduled hours.
• Ability to take direction and accept supervision.
• Demonstrate ability to work independently, organize and accurately prioritize work, be detail-oriented, understand when urgency is required and use good judgment in varied situations.
• Ability to work effectively with co-workers in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

Travel Requirements

• This role does not have a consistent travel expectation; however, there may be travel from time-to-time.

The application window is anticipated to close on or after October 3, 2025.

We celebrate and support diversity and the benefits it brings to our workplaces, clients and communities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. It is the employment policy and practice of Lathrop GPM to recruit and hire employees without discrimination because of race, color, sex, gender, religion, age, national origin, military status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by applicable law.

Lathrop GPM LLP offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, and a professional, challenging, yet comfortable working environment. Lathrop GPM does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiting agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of Lathrop GPM without prior approval from an HR Manager will be considered unsolicited and the property of Lathrop GPM.

EOE/M/F/D/V NO PHONE CALLS