Foster Pepper has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the Northwest community through direct pro bono legal advocacy, community service, charitable contributions, and by serving on nonprofit boards. The firm strongly supports participation by its attorneys in public service activities, and promotes giving time and talent to causes that strengthen the ability of the legal system to serve public needs.

Those in the legal profession enjoy a unique role in the community and have the skills and abilities to provide legal advocacy for the disadvantaged and promote the public interest in ways that those in other professions cannot. To that end, Foster Pepper believes providing community and pro bono services is a vital element of every attorney’s professional responsibility. The firm strives to be at the forefront of that commitment.

Foster Pepper has a diverse and innovative pro bono practice, devoting substantial resources to various community service and charitable activities. Foster Pepper's Pro Bono Committee, comprised of Marc Greenough, Chair; Steve Gillespie; Robert Kunold; Jake Larson; Pamela McClaran; Joanna Plichta Boisen; Jack Zahner; Kerry Robinson; and staff member Brenda Bole, provides direction on where to focus resources, and develop the firm's pro bono policy, institutes and launches pro bono programs, and meets regularly to discuss and evaluate the firm’s pro bono progress.

As Foster Pepper's Pro Bono Counsel, Joanna Plichta Boisen maintains a litigation and transactional practice providing pro bono legal representation to persons of indigent means, immigrants, low-income women, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities. She directs and manages the firm’s wide-ranging pro bono cases and projects, advises the firm on pro bono policy, serves as a liaison to local public interest organizations, authors the Pro Bono Annual Report, and coordinates the Summer Associate’s Pro Bono Program. Joanna currently serves the Chair of the Pro Bono Coordinators and Counsels in Seattle, has authored several articles on corporate pro bono, and authors a Seattle City Brights pro bono blog for Seattlepi.com. Most recently, Joanna appeared on KING 5's New Day Northwest to discuss rights and responsibilities of tenants. View it here.

For more information regarding the Pro Bono Program please contact Joanna directly at boisj@foster.com. Read about Joanna and the firm's program here. View a copy of our 2012 Pro Bono Annual Report.