OUTREACH - The Business Law Project Support Fund:
Responding to the needs of the Public and the Profession.

What is Outreach?

OUTREACH is maintained and administered by the American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education (FJE), the charitable arm of the ABA. The FJE is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and contributions made to the Fund through FJE are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
OUTREACH - The Business Law Project Support Fund was established in 2004 by the ABA Section of Business Law to better reflect its mission to serve the public and the profession by furthering the development and improvement of the practice of business law. OUTREACH complements the Section's goals of educating the public on matters of business law, supporting pro bono business law outreach, and promoting diversity in business law practice.


Specifically, OUTREACH works to:

  • Provide ongoing support for the projects of the Section's Committee on Pro Bono, particularly its showcase pro bono outreach, A Business Commitment (ABC) .
  • Assist in the initial and ongoing development of consumer oriented Web sites and educational materials like safeshopping.org and safeborrowing.com.
  • Fund the outreach programs of the Section's Committee on Diversity including the Ambassadors Program (lawyers of color) and the Diplomat Program (lawyers with disabilities).
  • Establish a strong base from which the Section can respond to the overwhelming legal needs of those affected by natural disasters.

Support for our Communities

"The Business Law Section's generous grant will provide national coordination capacity that is so desperately needed to respond to the continuing and long-term legal needs here. It is truly a godsend, and we are immensely grateful."

Martha Bergmark
President, Mississippi Center for Justice
ABC stands for "A Business Commitment." Established in 1993, the ABC Project embodies the commitment of the ABA Section of Business Law, through its Committee on Pro Bono, to match the time and talents of business and transactional lawyers across the country with the legal service needs of community groups. Business lawyers who want to make a pro bono contribution are not presented with ready opportunities to volunteer their expertise in the ways that specialists in other areas of the law may be. Their unique know-how and skills do not easily match up with the needs of typical individual pro bono clients, especially those needing litigation assistance.

At the same time, community development corporations, charitable organizations, low income housing groups, legal services programs, and other organizations that seek to promote economic development or provide services in low-income communities may require assistance with incorporation, contracts, financing, real estate, employment, and other matters that business lawyers handle, yet lack the resources to hire an attorney. They may not even know that they would benefit from legal counsel and representation. With over 200 state and local programs, the ABC Project succeeds


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Support for Consumers

The consumer resources provided by the Section are some of the most accessed materials on the Section Web site. Informational sites created by the Section provide consumers with valuable guidance on issues ranging from online shopping and gift cards (safeshopping.org) to securing a fair mortgage (safeborrowing.com). Issues of business law are a daily part of the lives of consumers everywhere. The Section's efforts to educate consumers on these issues are an important part of our mission.


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Support for a Diverse Profession

The representation and involvement of all lawyers, regardless of color or disability, in the work of the Section is a key component of our commitment to diversity. Through the Ambassadors Program for lawyers of color and Diplomat Program for lawyers with disabilities, the Section is committed to financially supporting lawyers from these constituencies and providing them with opportunities to participate in the substantive work of the Section and progress into Section leadership positions.


Support when the Need is Greatest

The destruction in Louisiana and Mississippi from Hurricane Katrina provided a hard lesson in the way a natural disaster can impact the financial lives of businesses and individuals and lay waste to the basic elements of our legal system. When these disasters strike, the ABA Section of Business Law stands ready to provide support to state and local bars in their efforts to rebuild the practices of their members and the courts in which they serve. The Section also provides assistance through its own work and supports the legal service projects providing direct assistance to large numbers of disaster victims facing financial ruin from job loss and property destruction.


How can I be a part of OUTREACH?

Right Now - Take a moment and donate the value of one billable hour to OUTREACH. This early initial support demonstrates your commitment and inspires other.

Every Year - Remember OUTREACH during your end-of-year charitable giving.

Throughout Your Career - Think of OUTREACH when it is time to commemorate an important milestone or remember a colleague.

A donation form/pledge card is included. You can also find donation information on the OUTREACH Web site, here or by calling 312-988-5588.
 
This Web site is a project of the ABA Section of Business Law