Law360 Quotes Steven Schulman on Pro Bono Legal Aid for Ukraine
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Akin Gump pro bono partner Steven Schulman was quoted by Law360 Pulse for its article “BigLaw Wants To Aid Ukraine Refugees But Searches For How.”
The article discusses difficulties encountered by large law firms in providing pro bono legal assistance to refugees fleeing the situation with Russia and Ukraine.
Said Schulman, “We're right now in the phase, like with most crises, where there is a mismatch of the interest of the lawyers who want to help and the opportunity to help. I don't expect that mismatch to last long.”
The article contrasts the situation of refugees fleeing Ukraine to Poland and those who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban retook that country, noting that, in the latter case, lawyers such as Schulman were able to quickly provide legal assistance on immigration and other matters.
By contrast, in Ukraine, the U.S., at this point, the article notes, is not directly evacuating refugees.
Schulman notes that he received an email from someone asking for help on a refugee’s behalf and wondering what that person should do once they get to Poland. He said, “And I've got to say, ‘Right now, nothing. When I find out something, I'll let you know’.”
