Top American Law Firm, WilmerHale, Places Third in the Country for Pro Bono Work
In 2024, WilmerHale proved its commitment to social justice by ranking among the top law firms nationally for pro bono hours contributed by its lawyers. The firm's lawyers donated an impressive total of 148,000 pro bono hours, reflecting strong engagement with diverse social justice issues.
According to a report, WilmerHale consistently ranks in the top tier of law firms for pro bono work, alongside other notable firms. This indicates its broad involvement in significant civil rights and justice causes. The firm's pro bono work typically spans a variety of impact areas, including litigation involving immigrant justice, reproductive rights, religious liberties, voting rights, racial justice, gun safety, and disability rights.
While specific details about individual notable pro bono cases in 2024 focusing on these areas were not listed explicitly, WilmerHale is well recognized for its staunch commitment to public service and leadership in pro bono representation across various areas.
However, further research uncovered several notable cases from 2024. For instance, WilmerHale secured a successful preliminary injunction in the Ninth Circuit, blocking Idaho from criminalizing referrals for out-of-state abortion care, in collaboration with the ACLU and Planned Parenthood.
Moreover, more than 100 veterans were represented by WilmerHale in seeking combat-related special compensation, military discharge status upgrades, and other disability benefits. A class action settlement was obtained with the ACLU of Massachusetts, providing a means for the dismissal of removal proceedings against class members and clearing a path for many class members to become permanent residents.
An individual tried and sentenced in adult criminal court for acts committed while under the age of 18 had their sentence commuted and was released, following efforts by WilmerHale. A synagogue was assisted in taking action to protect itself from antisemitic threats, and representation was provided for a Buddhist prisoner in efforts to secure access to a diet aligned with his religious beliefs.
It's worth noting that 100% of WilmerHale's lawyers donated more than 20 hours of pro bono legal services in 2024. The firm is one of only five firms whose lawyers averaged more than 125 hours of pro bono work in 2024. WilmerHale's pro bono practice ranked third in the US in 2025, according to The American Lawyer's Pro Bono Scorecard.
The report analyses and ranks the nation's most prestigious law firms based on legal services donated over the past year. WilmerHale's 2024 pro bono efforts are notable for their volume and broad civil rights impact, including the areas of immigrant justice, reproductive rights, religious liberties, voting rights, racial justice, gun safety, and disability rights. Despite the lack of precise case-level details in the provided material, WilmerHale's reputation for leadership in pro bono representation and its renowned litigation practice suggest that the firm handled multiple important matters within those categories in 2024.
WilmerHale's pro bono work in 2024 extended to various impact areas, including class action suits, as evidenced by a successful settlement obtained with the ACLU of Massachusetts. The firm's lawyers also provided legal counsel on finance-related issues, helping more than 100 veterans secure combat-related special compensation and military discharge status upgrades. Concurrently, the law firm's commitment to social justice was demonstrated in various business matters, such as securing a preliminary injunction in the Ninth Circuit that protects the right to refer for out-of-state abortion care.
