The August 4, 2008 publication of LegalTimes features a special report on pro bono work written by Goodwin Procter's Los Angeles attorney Brooks R. Brown.
In his article entitled Helping the Nazis' Victims--For those who labored in the ghettos, there's a chance for restitution, Brooks, who serves on the firm's pro bono committee, presents an overview of the efforts of several attorneys at Goodwin Procter in assisting the Bet Tzedek's Holocaust Survivors Justice Network with their efforts in assisting holocaust survivors determine their eligibility for restitution through the German Ghetto Work Payment Program. This program pays approximately $3,000 to qualifying survivors who worked "voluntarily" in the Nazi ghettos during World War II.
While Brooks has been involved with the efforts in Los Angeles, it is estimated that over 20,000 survivors qualify for reparation nationwide. Brooks says, "Once word spread within the firm of our involvement in Los Angeles, it became clear that this project might interest the lawyers in the firm's Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. offices, as well." As a result, more than 25 lawyers and professional staff in the DC office have now expressed interest in assisting in this effort, and 13 people are currently engaged in setting up the clinic structure in the Boston area.
Brooks says that "knowing that the clients are not only trusting them with their heart-wrenching stories, but also relying on them for much-needed assistance helps the firm's lawyers re-focus on the job that they've been entrusted to handle." He goes on to say that while the stories they are privileged to hear are "clear, vivid, and haunting," they allow them to "take away lasting impressions and life lessons."