3 R. Robert Popeo Robert I. Bodian Susan M. Finegan Chairman Managing Member Chair, Pro Bono Committee Most of us find transitions challenging, even when we welcome change and see a clear path forward to our next destination. For many of our pro bono clients living in very difficult situations— in abusive domestic relationships, extreme poverty, or societies that won’t allow people of different faiths or sexual orientations to live openly as who they are—letting go of the status quo to seek refuge elsewhere is the only viable option. Still, taking the first step away from a familiar life—even to escape probable harm—requires exceptional courage. Our pro bono attorneys make such options possible for such individuals and the organizations that serve them. With our legal assistance, our clients are better equipped to successfully navigate the legal obstacles standing between them and safer, happier circumstances. The pro bono clients whose stories we highlight in this book don’t seek refuge from the world as much as a chance to find their place in it. We are honored to collaborate with them and our partners—nonprofit and legal service organizations, in-house legal departments, and other law firms—to provide access to legal avenues that will allow them to find their voices, discover their talents, and build their own havens in a world where many of us take these basic human rights for granted. Refuge