Pro bono events like these benefit youth seeking legal support and guidance to move beyond their mistakes toward brighter futures.
Koch Pro Bono team members and employee volunteers gathered at offices in Wichita and five other locations on Sept. 23, linking up virtually with legal partner Baker McKenzie for this year’s third Justice in Action Global Sprint — an initiative focused on helping young people around the world navigate the unique legal systems in their countries.
A mistake made when someone is young can create lasting barriers. That costly error in judgement can often thrust juveniles into legal systems that can feel impossible to understand — with rules varying by geographic location on what can be erased or expunged from a record. This can close doors to jobs, educational opportunities, housing and even where someone can travel.
“Access to legal information can be life-changing, particularly for young people facing barriers that could affect their future opportunities,” said Jaclyn Pampel, pro bono partner with Baker McKenzie. “Organizations like ours have the ability, and the responsibility, to use our skills and resources to help expand access to justice and empower individuals with the information they need to move forward.”
The first Justice in Action sprint of the year, held on March 4, brought together more than 100 volunteers from Koch and legal partners Baker McKenzie and KPMG Law. Volunteers stepped into the shoes of juveniles working to expunge their records, addressing scenarios across 27 countries — from court filings to documentation requirements.
A second sprint followed on May 12, again pairing Koch and Baker McKenzie to continue advancing that work, culminating with the Sept. 23 event where volunteers focused on closing out the remaining jurisdictions. This work will ultimately be published and shared as guidance for young people all over the world seeking direction on the resources available to them.
“This final sprint brought the project across the finish line,” added Jaclyn. “Building on the work completed in the first two sessions, we brought more than 100 people together to refine and complete practical resources designed to help young people better understand the process addressing juvenile records in jurisdictions around the world.”
Partnerships like this reflect the broader stewardship vision of Koch, which supports employee engagement in their communities. The goal of these sprints is to use the company’s legal resources, along with the expertise of its non-attorney professionals, to remove roadblocks that keep people from moving forward with their lives.
“The importance for the young people who ultimately benefit from the work our team has done this year is even more straightforward: expungement of juvenile offenses can change the entire trajectory of their lives,” said event volunteer Adam Fitzsimmons, associate general counsel, corporate governance and transactions with Koch. “It can open up opportunities that might otherwise be unfairly closed to them.”
