The AmLaw 200 pro bono performance survey 2012 suggested that a gradually recovering economy may lift pro bono work back to pre-collapse levels. However, the changes in law firm staffing and a fixation on cost control raided some concern.

Top 10 failure

The report saw 450-lawyer firm Jenner & Block secure the top position with an average of nearly 155 pro bono hours per lawyer and 85 per cent of lawyers completing more than 20 hours. Los Angeles-based Paul Hastings came second while Washington DC-headquartered Covington & Burling placed third.
Ranked 146 in the Am Law 200, New York’s Patterson Belknap punched well above its weight to finish sixth in the pro bono stakes.
No AmLaw top 10 firm appeared on the list until Anglo-US practice DLA Piper clocked in at 16th position. New York’s White & Case placed 22nd, while Latham & Watkins (25th), Skadden (26th) and Anglo-US firm Hogan Lovells (28th) round out the top 30.