NEW YORK โ More than 40 major law firms have joined a nationwide pro bono network to provide free legal assistance to Jewish people who say they have been targeted by antisemitic harassment, discrimination, or violence since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.
The initiative grew out of a campus-focused hotline launched two years ago by the law firm Gibson Dunn in cooperation with Jewish advocacy organizations. The hotline connected students, professors, and staff to volunteer lawyers and handled more than 1,000 reports from over 260 campuses, resulting in litigation, settlements, and institutional policy changes. Organizers say the new network expands that model beyond higher education to serve the broader Jewish community.
Participating firms include many of the nationโs largest corporate practices. Organizers say the network, which collectively taps tens of thousands of attorneys, will use a centralized intake system, including a reporting app, to route matters to pro bono counsel. The legal work will cover a range of matters, from civil rights complaints, employment and housing discrimination, and protection of religious exercise, to litigation against extremist actors and representation in criminal matters arising from hate incidents.
Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, described the surge of antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7 as “unprecedented” and said the legal network represents an essential addition to existing community safety tools. He said litigation and legal advocacy are necessary complements to education and law enforcement responses.
Gibson Dunn partners and allied lawyers who helped run the campus hotline said demand for assistance increasingly came from outside academic settings, prompting the expansion. The prior hotline led to at least two dozen formal legal actions, including settlements, criminal prosecutions, and changes in institutional policies, organizers say. Those outcomes helped persuade large firms to broaden their pro bono commitments.
The network will be governed by a legal steering committee that will assess intake and triage cases. Organizers said the approach aims to standardize and speed responses while preserving client confidentiality and ensuring matters are referred to firms with the relevant expertise and capacity. An app-based intake system will allow victims to report incidents and request help.
Law industry observers said the initiative reflects a shift toward greater litigation engagement by advocacy groups addressing antisemitism and a willingness among large firms to commit substantial pro bono resources. Some commentators noted that legal actions carry reputational risks for law firms amid polarized public debate over the IsraelโGaza war, but organizers maintained that defending religious liberty and protecting individuals from hate falls squarely within pro bono commitments.
Orin Snyder, a Gibson Dunn partner who has been prominent in legal responses to antisemitism, said the network is โproud to establish an unprecedented legal protection against antisemitism, extremism and hate.โ He emphasized the networkโs capacity to move quickly on urgent matters that threaten personal safety or religious exercise.
The networkโs organizers said they will coordinate with civil rights groups, campus administrations, law enforcement, and community organizations to ensure victims receive appropriate legal and nonlegal support. They also said they will monitor outcomes to measure the initiativeโs effectiveness in deterring future incidents and securing remedies for victims.
Legal experts cautioned that not every reported incident will produce a viable claim, and that the success of the effort will depend on rapid intake, thorough fact-gathering, and sustained firm commitment. Organizers said training and protocols will be provided to participating lawyers to handle sensitive fact patterns, such as overlapping claims of political speech and protected protest activity.
For Jewish individuals seeking help, organizers advised using the networkโs intake channels and preserving any evidence of harassment or discrimination. Communities and institutions facing antisemitic acts were urged to report incidents to law enforcement and to seek both legal advice and community support resources.
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This article is based on verified information from The Wall Street Journal, Gibson Dunn, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Bloomberg Law.