Volunteer of the Month – October 2023

Laura Hunt is an associate at Alston & Bird LLP.

• • How did you first get involved with pro bono?

I was staffed on a pro bono matter almost immediately upon starting at Alston & Bird. I attended a firm meeting about a project with the Promise of Justice Initiative and reached out to the firm team to be assigned to a case.

• • What types of cases have you accepted?

A variety—from consumer fraud in Texas state court, to a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief, constitutional violations in Louisiana state court, and international kidnapping in federal court

• • Why do you do pro bono?

It is immensely satisfying on a personal level, while also giving me career development opportunities I may not otherwise have this early on.

• • What impact has pro bono service had on your career?

It has given me many opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise to this point (if at all), including arguing multiple hearings, examining witnesses in federal court, filing a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, and direct client involvement.

• • What is the most unexpected benefit you have received from doing pro bono?

Forming relationships with coworkers that I was not otherwise staffed with.