West announced a new pro bono outreach initiative and a Web site to help lawyers displaced by recent layoffs manage the transition to their next assignment. West is a business of Thomson Reuters and the leading source of intelligent information for law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies. Do Justice [ http://west.thomson.com/westlaw/do-justice/ ] is a new client-focused initiative that supports law firm pro bono activities. The heart of this program is a relationship with the Pro Bono Institute that makes more than $12 million in Westlaw access available to law firms to support pro bono outreach in the communities they serve.

Between Cases [ www.betweencases.com ] is a new online resource for displaced legal associates seeking employment and networking opportunities. The site includes job search tools, legal education offerings from West LegalEdCenter, information and resources for setting up a private practice, and special offers from Westlaw and other West services. The goal of the site is to help job seekers in the legal industry stay connected with their peers and with prospective employers as they navigate the transition to their next assignment. Between Cases also offers free resources for displaced attorneys seeking to initiate or continue pro bono work while looking for permanent employment.

Peter Warwick, president and chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters, Legal, said the initiatives reflect West’s longstanding commitment to the legal industry, and to the humanitarian and social justice causes that attract many to the profession in the first place. “Across our organization, our primary mission is to help the legal system perform better – every day, worldwide,” said Warwick. “These new initiatives support our customers’ efforts to make their communities and the organizations they care about better through pro bono work, and allow us to put important tools and resources in the hands of attorneys as they transition to private practice or their next role. “

In addition to supporting our customers, Thomson Reuters has a steadfast commitment to equal justice and equal access to representation in the manner that the constitution demands,” Warwick added. “In a society where the rule of law trumps everything, we are proud to be a part of our clients’ efforts to ensure the ideals of justice are upheld for all, and that those rights aren’t forfeited because a wronged party is poor.”

Last year, West gave more than $12 million in Westlaw access to law firms to support pro bono outreach and hopes to increase the number significantly in 2009 through these two initiatives that are geared toward both firm-level and individual support. Likewise, Thomson Reuters supports international pro bono outreach through TrustLaw, a new program from the Thomson Reuters Foundation that will also serve as a forum for lawyers, accountants, judges, journalists, governments and NGOs focusing on specific areas of the law, such as good governance and anti-corruption.

“In this time of severe economic turmoil, the need for pro bono services is greater than ever before,” said Esther Lardent, president and CEO of Pro Bono Institute. “The services that West is supporting with initiatives like Do Justice and offering free Westlaw for pro bono work to attorneys between appointments play a critical role in the effort to offer quality legal representation and due process to public interest organizations and low-income individuals dealing with a crisis in their life, such as eviction, child custody or abuse. Also, it’s imperative that people see due process and accessible courts in order for our society to have a real sense of the rule of law and democracy. This is a collaborative effort, and West is a really important part of that team.”

Learn more about Between Cases and the Westlaw Do Justice program by visiting www.betweencases.com or http://west.thomson.com/westlaw/do-justice/, or by calling your Thomson Reuters sales representative.