Making a Difference: Pro bono partnership with client Citigroup

Now in its 13^thyear, the pro bono partnership between BCLP, Citigroup (Citi) and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) is going stronger than ever. For the past several years, the partnership has hosted an annual law clinic to help underprivileged St. Louis-area residents complete health care directives and special power of attorney documents in observance of the Pro Bono Institute’s Financial Institutions Day, an event that took place in April this year.

The partnership hosted another, specially convened, clinic on Sept. 19 to help with expanded needs identified through its St. Louis Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative (another long-term pro bono effort with BCLP and LSEM). Sixteen lawyers and paralegals from BCLP, Citi and LSEM participated in the clinic, assisting nearly 20 people as they completed important health care and personal documents. Associates Sasha Riedisser and Ed Tjaden presented a CLE for participating lawyers before the clinic.

In addition to their work in providing health care documents for underprivileged persons in the St. Louis community, the partnership’s newest venture will help US military veterans throughout the country with discharge issues. On Aug. 1, the partnership hosted speakers from the University of Missouri Veterans Clinic for a training program on the discharge process and navigating discharge claims. BCLP and Citi will team up to represent veterans starting this fall.