“With this training and consultation program, the attorneys were in and out within the morning, and the nonprofits had an actual deliverable to take home with them. It didn’t require any ongoing work, so it was a quick and manageable way to give back and get hands-on experience working with the clients themselves. The entire experience was very rewarding.” – Kimberly Harding, Senior Associate, Nixon Peabody
On May 5, Lawyers Clearinghouse teamed up with Nixon Peabody’s Boston office to host a pro bono consultation for local nonprofits seeking assistance creating or updating their social media policies. The program was staffed pro bono with attorneys from Boston Scientific, Choate Hall & Stewart, General Electric, Hirsch Roberts Weinstein, and Nixon Peabody. Kim Harding, a senior associate in Nixon’s Rochester, New York office, flew in that morning to lead a training session for the attorneys in attendance.
Following the training, each nonprofit was paired with a team of the attorneys, who consulted with them about their unique needs. The attorneys then helped the nonprofit clients craft social media policies that were not only compliant with certain employment laws, but also tailored to each individual organization, outlining how their employees should conduct themselves online in order to safeguard themselves and their employer.
As a member of Nixon Peabody’s Labor & Employment group, Kim works regularly with for-profit employers facing a variety of labor and employment issues. She says although nonprofits are tax-exempt, they are not immune from employment issues or employment liability. And because nonprofits often have limited resources, such as small HR departments (if any) and small budgets, they may not be equipped to handle matters as easily as for-profit businesses.
Kim appreciated the opportunity to leverage her expertise to serve an audience she doesn’t always have an opportunity to assist. Meanwhile, the program was rated highly by both pro bono attorneys and the nonprofit clients, who felt the legal guidance strengthened their organizations and left them better equipped to deal with any future social media issues.
The Clearinghouse’s next consultation program, regarding commercial leases for nonprofits, will be held at DLA Piper’s Boston office on October 26. Learn more here.
