Community Involvement & Pro Bono Work
At Steptoe & Johnson, lawyers are actively involved in community service, outreach programs, and pro bono work. Each lawyer in the firm is involved in some type of civic organization, from basic memberships to leadership positions on committees and boards. Steptoe & Johnson encourages new associates to utilize their backgrounds, talents, and personal interests, and contribute those skills and resources to the betterment of the community as well as the legal profession.
Steptoe & Johnson personnel have provided care packages for American soldiers stationed in Iraq, organized and served over 1,400 meals at community holiday dinners, assembled teams for various health and wellness walks, coordinated nursing home visits, and collected donations and food supplies for local humane societies. The firm continues to provide significant financial support to Legal Aid of West Virginia, The West Virginia Symphony, The Charleston Ballet, The Clay Center for Arts and Sciences –WV, and The United Way, to name a few.
The firm has long been committed to providing pro bono legal services to individuals and organizations of limited financial means. Within the firm, one attorney serves as pro bono counsel to ensure that such projects are identified and staffed. This involvement provides Steptoe & Johnson lawyers with diverse opportunities for professional development, while fostering relationships with social service agencies, legal advocacy groups, and non-profit groups. Through these relationships, firm lawyers have represented clients in a number of cases, which include abuse and neglect proceedings for children, domestic violence protection for victims, guardianship appointments, and end of life planning for seniors.
Steptoe & Johnson teamwork evident through Habitat for Humanity project
Ferro Konstanty Bryson McCoy
On Saturday, November 3rd, Marc Bryson, Chris Ferro, Paul Konstanty and Kate McCoy volunteered through the Charleston Area Alliance's Generation Charleston organization to assist Habitat for Humanity in the renovation of a home in Kanawha City (a suburb of Charleston). In eight hours, the team painted the house's foundation and every interior room, broke up and removed concrete sidewalks, spread gravel, and stained both the back and front decks of the residence. Some members of the team were first-time Habitat for Humanity volunteers, yet their newness was not apparent as the level of quality work left the homeowner in pleasant disbelief.
As Client Services Specialist, Kate McCoy, reported, "The owner was absolutely thrilled with the team's progress. She kept repeating how grateful she was to be able to serve her family a Thanksgiving meal in her own home, which she was so proud of."
This is yet another example of the firm's commitment to the community, as well as a group's genuine desire to improve the conditions in which everyday people live and work.
