Press Release
Awards and Rankings
June 29, 2004

Goodwin Procter LLP Receives Award for Pro Bono Services

The Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project Honors Firm at Annual Benefit Dinner for Dedication to Pro Bono Services

BOSTON, June 29, 2004 — Goodwin Procter LLP today announced that the firm has been chosen to receive an award from The Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project for its outstanding commitment to pro bono legal services on behalf of asylum-seekers and immigrants in detention.

In recent months, Goodwin Procter attorneys and legal staff have been successful in obtaining asylum for two individuals, and, since 1997, have assisted countless others involved in the PAIR program. In total, Goodwin Procter has taken on 16 PAIR cases, of which 6 individuals have been granted asylum and several others continue to receive pro bono services while their cases move toward resolution.

The PAIR Project is a not-for-profit organization, organized by a coalition of legal services agencies and civil liberties organizations, which is committed to helping asylum-seekers and immigrants in detention. The PAIR program has assisted over 1000 clients, with a success rate of over 95 percent in winning asylum cases. In addition, PAIR counsels, advises and represents over 300 non-citizen immigration detainees each year from over 65 countries.

Goodwin Procter has an active pro bono practice. Previous clients include the Economic Justice Project, Friends of Boston’s Homeless, Neighborhood Housing Services of New York, the Environmental Resources Trust and Habitat for Humanity.