In-house Access
August 24, 2012
“The Merck Pro Bono Program began in 1994 when Mary McDonald, former senior vice president and general counsel at Merck, challenged the attorneys within the Office of General Counsel to meet their professional obligation to ensure “equal justice” through the pro bono representation of the poor and disadvantaged. In response, seven volunteer patent attorneys and three administrative associates based in Rahway, NJ, joined representatives from Legal Services of New Jersey and Central Jersey Legal Services to form a groundbreaking alliance to provide direct legal assistance to low-income individuals in the areas of bankruptcy and family law matters.
More than 18 years later, the company’s pro bono program has grown substantially, and today, includes approximately 175 attorneys, paralegals and administrative associates providing pro bono legal services to residents and nonprofit companies.”