Pro Bono Opportunities
DOT Serves
The Department's pro bono policy encourages employees to provide pro bono legal service within their communities. To implement the Department's policy, former General Counsel Kirk K. Van Tine established the Pro Bono Services Committee, and successive General Counsels have likewise supported pro bono legal service by attorneys in the Department. The Committee seeks to promote pro bono legal service, provide guidance on the ethical and legal considerations involved in performing such service, and present information regarding appropriate pro bono legal opportunities for DOT attorneys. The Committee is headed by Christopher Jennison of the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Chief Counsel and includes a representative designated by the Chief Counsel from each mode. The Committee schedules speakers and other activities to educate Department attorneys on available pro bono legal opportunities.
The committee membership is listed below; please contact your mode’s representative if you have any questions about pro bono as a Department of Transportation attorney.
• Federal Aviation Administration: Jack Williams;
• Federal Highway Administration: James Esselman;
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Andrea Manka;
• Federal Railroad Administration: Kevin MacWhorter;
• Federal Transit Administration, Mark Montgomery;
• Maritime Administration, Roxana Brown;
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration: Harlan Dalzell;
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: vacant;
• DOT Office of General Counsel: Terence Carlson and Hector Huezo;
• Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System: Carrie Lavigne; and
• DOT Office of Inspector General: Seth Kaufman.
Have an Idea?
If you have an idea for pro bono service, how to promote it within the Department, or how to improve this website, please notify the Pro Bono Services Committee by emailing the representative from your mode.
An employee seeking to engage in pro bono work must comply with the Department's policy as well as applicable federal and state rules, regulations and statutes. To avoid running afoul of any legal constraints on outside activities, a Department attorney should talk to his or her supervisor before engaging in pro bono service.