Pro Bono

Ashford & Wriston attorneys demonstrate strong commitment to the community through the pro bono work they perform each year. The firm dedicated 2,050 volunteer hours in 2013, an average of 64 hours per attorney. But beyond the numbers is the impact that this work has on the many individuals and organizations that we represent, from disadvantaged senior citizens who have been denied benefits to victims of domestic violence.

In June of 2013 and June of 2014, we staffed the “Access to Justice Room” at Honolulu District Court. The Access to Justice Room helps self-represented litigants with short-term legal advice on civil matters related to landlord tenant cases, collection cases, and certain types of temporary restraining order cases. The program is a joint effort between the Hawaii State Judiciary, the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.

“The number of individuals representing themselves in civil proceedings because they cannot afford an attorney has been increasing. Many self-represented parties struggle with the judicial system because they don’t understand the process and what is expected of them,” said Chief Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court, Mark E. Recktenwald. “Our Access to Justice Room is intended to help them navigate the system more effectively, which in turn helps the system run more smoothly.”