Cisco’s Chief Authorized Officer shares her perspective on the ability of professional bono work.
Cisco’s objective is to energy a extra inclusive future for all.
This isn’t simply summary sentiment; our objective is ingrained in every thing we do. It guides the design of our know-how, the tradition we domesticate with our groups, and our efforts within the communities the place we stay and work. For 3 years operating, Cisco has maintained greater than 80 % worker participation in group impression actions. When 4 out of each 5 Cisco staff, representing 95 nations, are discovering alternatives to offer again in methods which can be significant to them, it’s clear we have now a purpose-driven tradition—one during which acts each giant and small add as much as create unimaginable outcomes.
Cisco’s professional bono work

The Seattle Clemency Mission (SCP) and Perkins Coie for a Professional Bono Clinic earlier this yr.
Inside Cisco Authorized, we’re keen about residing this objective by way of professional bono. As authorized and compliance professionals, we have now a profound alternative and duty to lean into our distinctive strengths and areas of experience to extend entry to justice.
Our professional bono program relies on two core tenets. First, professional bono isn’t one measurement matches all. Simply as we encourage people throughout Cisco to offer again in alignment with their private passions and pursuits, Cisco Authorized colleagues can choose and select how they need to form their professional bono expertise. Our individuals carry out conventional professional bono work, partnering with legislation companies and nonprofits to handle a wide range of points, together with immigration, contracting, and expungement. They supply operational assist for nonprofits centered on entry to justice, creating larger impression for communities in want. And so they use our proprietary Cisco applied sciences to place justice inside attain of those that typically lack the sources or capacity of the extra privileged.
Second, professional bono is for everybody. Greater than half of our Cisco Authorized group in the US, throughout all of our various disciplines and professions, participated in Professional Bono in our final fiscal yr. We’ve additionally made nice strides in participation throughout our world groups. Whenever you open professional bono alternatives throughout the group, you’re not solely making a significant impression in the neighborhood at giant, however you’re constructing connections and strengthening your individual inside group.
Introducing the Cisco Professional Bono report
In our inaugural Cisco Professional Bono report, I’m happy to share simply a number of the methods during which our staff– working hand in hand with legislation companies, different in-house legislation departments, and nonprofits – have helped enhance entry to justice. You’ll examine Cisco Authorized group members who commit their free time to advocating for kids and refugees; who assist restore people’ capacity to get locations they should go; who make the authorized system accessible to individuals in attempting circumstances; and who use knowledge to stage the enjoying area for individuals who lack equal entry to justice.
It’s a privilege to share their tales.
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