In a recent issue of Pro Bono Innovators, Bloomberg Law recognized Jones Day for its notable humanitarian efforts, particularly the firm’s Border Project. In January 2023, this initiative, which offers complimentary legal aid to a multitude of asylum seekers and migrants, played a critical role in helping a woman escape gang exploitation in El Salvador and secure safety in the form of asylum. The firm’s compassionate response was not limited to this survivor but extends to thousands of asylum seekers, all of who benefited from the firm’s commitment to providing access to the Rule of Law.
The Border Project commenced in 2014 when a wave of unaccompanied children emerged at the border. Jones Day sent attorneys to US military bases housing these children and their families. The evident vulnerability of these groups motivated the firm’s attorneys to instigate critical changes. Thus, the Border Project rose, fueled by the desire to bridge the gap between migrants and existing legal services. With an emphasis on serving the most susceptible immigrants, the firm focused on leveraging its attorneys’ talents across multiple disciplines for maximum impact.
Jones Day extended its reach to Laredo, Texas, where the Laredo Processing Center, predominantly inhabited by Central American women seeking asylum, lacked the resources to provide free legal services. Recognizing this unfulfilled need, the firm established a full-time presence in Laredo, offering consultations and full legal representation to detainees.
Simultaneously, Jones Day has been commended for its co-founding role in the Eradicate Hate Global Summit in response to the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh. The Summit amasses experts from various fields to brainstorm preventative strategies against hate crimes. The initiative demonstrates the commitment to affecting systemic change rather than merely representing individual clients.
The firm’s innovative approaches have resulted in both local and global impacts. Their Border Project work with other advocates has highlighted immigration trends and access-to-justice issues. In fact, one of the firm’s amicus briefs to the US Supreme Court was quoted in the Department of Homeland Security’s conclusion that Migrant Protection Protocols created safety concerns limiting access to counsel.
Meanwhile, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit has partnered with the United Nations to create the Sports Working Group and “The Game Plan”, a strategy to counter hate speech by establishing partnerships with professional sports leagues, teams, and athletes. Other working groups are developing practical strategies to address the global issue of hate-motivated violence.
Despite their success, Jones Day acknowledges their work is ongoing and the need for legal services is greater than ever. The firm cites the unwavering commitment to client service, innovative legal arguments, and meticulous gathering of evidence as reasons for their success thus far. However, they remain driven by their responsibility to the vulnerable and have pledged to continue their work as long as the need exists.
For more detailed insights into Jones Day’s commendable humanitarian work, read the full article on Bloomberg Law.