The top lawyers for the cities of New York and Philadelphia are making a World Series bet that highlights pro bono service.

The chief legal officers from the losing city will travel to the winning city, along with a team of top lawyers and staffers, according to a press release (PDF) . They will don jerseys of the winning team and will go to every county or borough of the winning city, where they will visit with schoolchildren. The visits will include mock trials and career chats.

Philadelphia city solicitor Shelley Smith and New York City corporation counsel Michael Cardozo announced the bet today. They point out that this is National Pro Bono Week and hope their efforts will inspire volunteerism.

This week marks the first National Pro Bono Week; it is sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. In Washington, D.C., law firms are participating in a pro bono fundraiser on Friday called Go Casual for Justice Jeans Day, according to The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. The firms are donating $5 for every person who dresses down.

Sidley Austin's D.C. managing partner Carter Phillips, who attended Ohio State University, has agreed to wear a University of Michigan hat and tie for the day if his office raises $4,000 for pro bono.

Original Article