Pro-Bono & Community Involvement
We believe in strengthening our community and helping to address the needs of people who live and work in the greater Puget Sound area. Graham & Dunn invests in the local community through charitable contributions, active participation in a number of organizations and pro-bono work. More than three-quarters of our people are involved in community-related activities that are meaningful to them.
Current programs include:
Pro-bono work
We encourage and support our attorneys who are interested in pursuing pro-bono legal work. We routinely take cases from and work with King County Bar Association’s Volunteer Legal Services, University of Washington legal clinic, Seattle University legal clinic, as well as a number of neighborhood legal clinics. Other organizations benefiting from our pro-bono commitment include the Central District Forum on Arts & Ideas, Chief Seattle Club, Community for Youth, FareStart, Jubilee Women’s Center, Prison Legal News, The Nature Conservancy and YWCA.
Some of our attorneys truly excel in their pro-bono efforts and deserve special recognition. For example, shareholder Bob Cumbow has been active in Washington Lawyers for the Arts (WLA) for more than 15 years—volunteering with the Arts Legal Clinic, speaking on intellectual property issues and providing pro-bono assistance to film makers associated with the Northwest Film Forum. Recently, WLA created and awarded to Bob the Robert C. Cumbow Brio Award. The award honors his contribution to the arts community and years of service with the WLA.
Corporate matching
Our firm participates annually in the United Way campaign and the Gift Plus Program. All attorney and employee contributions made through either of these fundraisers is matched by the firm, up to $1000. We also make the event exciting for our people by organizing internal activities to support the cause. Examples include bake sales, raffles and silent auctions.
Charitable sponsorships
Each year, we officially support at least one major charitable organization through sponsorship. We also encourage our people, who are interested, to participate in the sponsored event. Past causes include the United Way Day of Caring, AIDS Walk, Beat the Bridge run to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Bowl for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, American Heart Association® Heart Walk and more.
Holiday card program
During the holiday season, we involve our clients and contacts in our charitable contribution efforts. Our greeting card lists at least four charities to which Graham & Dunn plans to make a major contribution. We ask our clients and contacts to select their preferred charity. Then we divide our total contribution among the four charities according to our clients’ and contacts’ wishes.
Graham & Dunn Memorial Scholarship
We award an annual scholarship to a high school senior who exemplifies leadership and commitment to community, and who has demonstrated the ability to overcome adversity.
Diversity Fellowship
We offer an annual Diversity Fellowship to a first-year law student with a diverse background who demonstrates commitment to fostering diversity in the legal community.
