The Annual Forum on In-House Corporate Pro Bono, presented in conjunction with the Pro Bono Institute's Annual Pro Bono Seminar, is this year's premier global pro bono event. It is the only conference specifically tailored to the interests, needs, resources, and emerging and evolving issues faced by corporate in-house lawyers and legal staff involved in the direction, oversight, support, and administration of the fast-growing number of legal departments with formal pro bono programs.

The Forum and Seminar offer a unique opportunity to address issues of corporate compliance, reputation, and corporate social responsibility from a legally-oriented and critically important perspective - that of pro bono public service. Corporate responsibility and accountability are not simply about avoiding misconduct and ensuring compliance: they are also about making a commitment to corporate good citizenship and fostering a culture and ethos of responsiveness to key company shareholders, including the communities in which we live and work.

The Pro Bono Institute Annual Seminar is the legal profession's premier global pro bono event and the only conference specifically tailored to the interests, needs, resources, and emerging and evolving issues faced by law firm leaders - chairs, managing partners, practice group and office leaders, pro bono committee chairs and members, pro bono partners, counsel, coordinators, and other pro bono-responsible legal staff - involved in the direction, oversight, support, and administration of major law firms and their pro bono programs. For busy law firm leaders, the Seminar offers, in one place at one time, the most comprehensive and high-quality information on law firm pro bono - tested ideas and concrete guidance that will enhance the performance, efficiency, effectiveness, and stature of your firm's pro bono efforts.

Law firms are changing at warp speed, and the dimensions and elements of law firm pro bono are evolving just as quickly. Plan to arrive at 12:00 noon on Thursday, February 28 for an informal kick-off luncheon for law firm registrants only, followed by an afternoon of programming that focuses on the myriad practical and policy issues faced by law firm leaders. Look for a wide range of new topical sessions that provide guidance on issues you've faced - or are about to face. Examples include a session on "pay to play" - should the availability of pro bono matters be a function of firms' willingness to provide financial support? Another topic new to the Seminar focuses on the emergence of the general counsel role and function at law firms and its impact on pro bono. On Saturday, the Seminar offers, on a space available basis, in-depth, hands-on workshops that will enable you to kick-start new elements of your firm's pro bono effort.

The needs of the poor and disadvantaged are changing, and law firm pro bono leaders, individually and collectively, are being asked to strategically address these new areas of legal need. The 2008 Seminar will feature roundtable discussions between key public interest and law firm leaders on a range of vitally important public interest issues that are designed to chart a course for effective advocacy and broadened roles for law firms.

For law firm leaders, the Seminar offers an inspiring and exciting community of interest and commitment. At the 2008 Seminar, you can access creative, reliable, up-to-the minute, and forward-thinking guidance on law firm pro bono by choosing from a rich and varied menu of programming while earning approximately eight hours of CLE credit. The Seminar is practical, yet visionary, inspiring but doable, information-laden, but easily tailored to your areas of interest. If you want to experience the best and most creative source of information, guidance, and inspiration on law firm pro bono, the Seminar is THE resource you simply can't miss.