By Woods Aitken LLP, with quotes from Michael D. Matejka and Audrey R. Svane, Partners at Woods Aitken LLP
When the team at Legal Aid of Nebraska invited Woods Aitken to share why the firm gives back and why it chose to be an Equal Justice Partner, the opportunity was welcomed as a chance to explain the firm’s commitment to pro bono service and community involvement.
At the heart of that commitment is Woods Aitken’s belief that serving the community means more than providing outstanding legal services; it means active involvement in making communities better places to live, work, and raise a family.
Woods Aitken also recognizes that the legal community has a unique responsibility to ensure that all citizens have access to a fair and just legal system. In honoring that responsibility, the firm encourages each of its attorneys to actively participate in some form of pro bono legal representation for persons of limited means and organizations serving persons of limited means. Woods Aitken has built that commitment into how the firm operates. The firm maintains a written pro bono policy that encourages every attorney to devote at least 50 hours each year to pro bono legal services, and provides “billable hour credit” for such work. This is supported by a culture that treats this work as core to who the firm is, not as an afterthought.
“When we provide pro bono services, we help make a difference in the lives of families and individuals who need it the most.”
Michael D. Matejka, Partner, Woods Aitken LLP
That perspective is at the center of why Woods Aitken supports and provides pro bono services. In Nebraska, in addition to supporting Legal Aid of Nebraska, the firm’s attorneys are active in the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project programs, including the Tenant Assistance Project and Nebraska Free Legal Answers, as well as legal clinics organized by Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, among other coordinated opportunities.
That same commitment extends across Woods Aitken’s broader community involvement. The firm’s attorneys and staff serve on nonprofit boards and in leadership roles with community organizations, support nonprofit missions through sponsorships and volunteer service, and partner with groups on local initiatives that strengthen the communities it serves. Woods Aitken also hosts Best Places to Work in Lincoln, an event honoring the area’s top businesses that have created positive work environments for their employees.
Partner Audrey R. Svane joined the Board of Legal Aid of Nebraska in January 2024. During her time on the Board, she has seen first-hand the impact that Legal Aid of Nebraska has on our community.
“Private attorneys can and should contribute through pro bono service, but we cannot meet the overwhelming need in Nebraska on our own. Legal Aid of Nebraska's work ensures that people facing some of life's most difficult civil legal challenges have access to quality legal representation, regardless of their financial circumstances. Legal Aid of Nebraska is an indispensable part of our civil justice system.”
Audrey Svane, Partner, Woods Aitken LLP
From pro bono legal work to community service and local partnerships, Woods Aitken is honored to contribute to efforts that strengthen communities and broaden access to opportunity, including through its recent partnership with Legal Aid of Nebraska.
