Defending Democracy Through Strategic Constitutional Litigation
When traditional pro bono channels face unprecedented pressure, the Pro Bono Litigation Corps stands ready. Led by experienced litigators and supported by a network of 125,000+ legal professionals, we provide independent attorneys with the infrastructure, resources, and collaborative partnerships needed to take on high-impact constitutional matters.
Our Impact: Representative Cases
The Pro Bono Litigation Corps has established a proven track record of defending constitutional rights and environmental justice through strategic litigation in partnership with leading civil rights and environmental organizations.
Environmental & Climate Justice Litigation
Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants Restoration
In partnership with Earthjustice, Southern Environmental Law Center, and Public Rights Project, we're fighting to restore $3 billion in congressionally mandated funding for 350+ pollution-reduction and climate-resilience projects across the country. Following the lower court's jurisdictional ruling, we have appealed to the D.C. Circuit to ensure communities—including the Native Village of Kipnuk, Alaska, facing catastrophic flooding—can access critical infrastructure protection.
Solar for All Program Defense
Together with Conservation Law Foundation, Southern Environmental Law Center, and Lawyers' Committee for Rhode Island, we filed suit in U.S. District Court for Rhode Island to restore the $7 billion Solar for All program. This litigation seeks to preserve nearly 900,000 households' access to solar energy, projected annual savings of $350 million, and critical support for Tribal communities where 35% of homes lack electricity.
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Constitutional Challenge
We served as counsel for 40 U.S. Senators and Representatives in an amicus brief before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging EPA's cancellation of $20 billion in clean energy grants as an unconstitutional executive power grab that violates Congress's exclusive "power of the purse."
Democracy & Constitutional Rights
Federal Trade Commission Independence Defense
As counsel to Professor Victoria Nourse and Lawyers Defending American Democracy, we filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court documenting the historical precedent for independent commissions dating back to the Founding era, challenging attempts to dismantle the constitutional structure of independent federal agencies.
Whistleblower Protection & Federal Employee Rights
FEMA Whistleblowers Reinstatement
In partnership with Government Accountability Project and Stand Up for Science, we successfully represented FEMA employees who were illegally terminated or placed on administrative leave after signing the Katrina Declaration, a dissent letter protesting agency mismanagement. All employees were fully reinstated after FEMA acknowledged their actions were protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act and the First Amendment.
Our Partners
The Pro Bono Litigation Corps collaborates with leading civil rights, environmental, and democracy organizations to maximize impact, including:
Earthjustice
Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC)
Democracy Forward
Public Rights Project
Conservation Law Foundation
Lawyers' Committee for Rhode Island
Government Accountability Project
Stand Up for Science
Meet Our Team
Gary DiBianco, Project Lead
Gary practiced for 25 years in the Washington DC and London offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, focusing on white collar defense, SEC enforcement matters and complex civil litigation. He retired from Skadden in June 2023 and is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to joining Skadden, he clerked in the Eastern District of New York and worked in the DOJ Criminal Division.
John Marks, Co-Founder
John Marks is a veteran peacebuilding leader and founder of Search for Common Ground, bringing decades of experience in conflict resolution and civic infrastructure building to the Corps.
Amy Powell, Litigation Director
Amy comes to L4GG after almost twenty years handling cutting-edge civil litigation in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch. As senior trial counsel at DOJ, Amy handled some of the Government's most sensitive and high-profile constitutional and administrative law litigation. She is a member in good standing with the bars of North Carolina and New York, and is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.A.) and New York University School of Law (J.D.). She clerked for the Hon. Amalya Kearse on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Kunyu Ching, Senior Counsel
Kunyu comes to L4GG from the ACLU of Kansas, where she worked as Senior Staff Attorney on First Amendment, criminal legal reform, policing, and voting rights matters. She holds a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and a JD with a public service law certificate from UC Davis School of Law. She is admitted to practice in California, Kansas, the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and federal district courts across the country.
Rachel Johnson, Senior Counsel
Rachel previously served as an Administrative Judge for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and was a Staff Attorney in the Women's and Reproductive Rights Project of the ACLU of Illinois. She graduated cum laude from DePaul University College of Law with a certificate in public interest and is admitted to practice in Illinois.
Laura Klein, Senior Manager, Pro Bono Initiatives
Laura brings 23 years of experience as the U.S. Department of Justice Pro Bono Program Manager and Chair of the Federal Government Pro Bono Program. She developed and oversaw a nationwide effort to recruit, advise, and support pro bono work by federal government attorneys from over 60 federal agencies. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Ohio State University College of Law, where she served as Editor in Chief of the Law Journal.
Why Volunteer with the Pro Bono Litigation Corps?
What You'll Receive
When you join the Corps, we remove every barrier that typically prevents unaffiliated attorneys from taking on high-impact litigation:
✅ Legal Malpractice Insurance – Full coverage for your volunteer work
✅ Secure Communications & Docketing Tools – Professional case management infrastructure
✅ Paralegal & Administrative Support – Dedicated staff assistance
✅ Case Strategy & Supervision – Guidance from experienced constitutional litigators
✅ Training & Professional Development – Ongoing CLE and litigation skills workshops
✅ Collaborative Partnerships – Work alongside leading civil rights and environmental organizations
Featured in The New York Times
The Pro Bono Litigation Corps was featured in The New York Times article "Big Law Firms Bowed to Trump. A Corps of 'Little Guys' Jumped in to Fight Him," highlighting how solo practitioners, former government litigators, and small law offices have stepped up to challenge administration policies when traditional Big Law faced political pressure.
"I don't know if the administration knew how many little guys are out there," said Michael H. Ansell, a solo practitioner who joined the Corps.
Join the Pro Bono Litigation Corps Today
🧑⚖️ I’m an attorney ready to volunteer
Put your litigation experience to work defending democracy and constitutional rights. Whether you're retired, between positions, or a solo/small firm practitioner—we provide the full infrastructure you need.
→ Volunteer with the PBLC
💸 I want to fund this critical initiative
Your tax-deductible donation funds litigation infrastructure, staff support, and malpractice insurance that makes this work possible.
→ Donate to the PBLC
Our Legal Focus Areas
We are prioritizing cases aligned with L4GG’s mission:
Democracy and the Rule of Law: judicial independence, executive overreach, voting right
Civil and Human Rights: reproductive rights, immigrant justice, LGBTQ+ protections
Environmental Justice: defense of federal climate funding, community environmental health
For Potential Clients & Referring Partners
The Pro Bono Litigation Corps accepts cases exclusively through referrals from trusted partner organizations. We do not accept direct case submissions from the public.
If you are an organization seeking litigation support for constitutional or civil rights matters aligned with our mission, please contact us at probono@lawyersforgoodgovernment.org to discuss potential partnership and case referral processes.
For individuals seeking legal assistance, we encourage you to contact established legal aid organizations, civil rights groups, or bar association referral services in your area.
Why This Moment Demands Action
The legal profession and the communities it serves face unprecedented challenges:
Political pressure is deterring traditional pro bono participation
Vulnerable clients struggle to find representation for urgent civil rights cases
Experienced attorneys want to help but lack the infrastructure to do so
The Pro Bono Litigation Corps fills this critical gap—providing experienced, independent attorneys with everything they need to defend constitutional rights when it matters most.
Backed by L4GG's Proven Track Record: Since 2016, Lawyers for Good Government has mobilized over $100 million in pro bono services—including $30 million in 2024 alone. The PBLC builds on this legacy to bring high-impact litigation within reach for the clients and causes that need it most.
Questions? Contact us at probono@lawyersforgoodgovernment.org
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