In a recent development, Paladin, a platform aimed at connecting lawyers with pro bono opportunities, has acquired Pro Bono Manager, a tool developed by Pro Bono Net. The latter is specifically designed to help large law firms in managing and tracking their pro bono programs. As reported by LawNext, this marks the first acquisition for Paladin, a nine-year-old company.
The Pro Bono Manager, launched in 2007, is primarily employed by large law firms to manage and record their pro bono work. It serves as a valuable tool enabling firms to supervise affairs related to pro bono work, while also providing resources for tracking and analyzing data. More information about Pro Bono Manager can be found on the LawNext Legal Technology Directory.
Simultaneously, Paladin’s main goal is to act as a bridge connecting law firms, corporate legal departments and bar associations with legal service organizations for pro bono partnerships. Additional details on Paladin can be procured from their entry in the LawNext Legal Technology Directory.
As a result of Paladin’s acquisition, all customers of Pro Bono Manager—almost entirely Am Law 100 law firms—will eventually transition to the Paladin platform. Pro Bono Net will continue its support for Pro Bono Manager until the transition process is complete.
Mark O’Brien, cofounder and executive director of Pro Bono Net, will join Paladin’s advisory board in this new phase. Both companies aim to continue their collaboration on pro bono matters, which includes opportunities for pro bono volunteers to use Pro Bono Net’s platforms to aid the public in resolving legal issues.
Giving a perspective on the merger, Kristen Sonday, Paladin’s CEO and cofounder stated, “By combining the data insights of Pro Bono Manager with Paladin’s opportunity referral and volunteer tracking tools, we’ll be able to create strong network effects that boost pro bono engagement across the board”.
The companies agreed on the acquisition as a means to leverage technology in contributing towards increased access to justice. They believe that the merger would lead to the generation of new strategic partnerships in pro bono work and provide impetus to Pro Bono Net’s diverse strategies aimed at increasing access to justice through an array of digital tools.
In conclusion, Paladin’s integration of Pro Bono Manager promises enhanced reporting functionalities and wider access to popular tools resulting in deeper insights into pro bono programs and greater efficiency for all clients.