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For over a decade, Amazon has been committed to providing free legal services to communities in need.
Pro Bono Program
In 2014, David Zapolsky, Amazon’s senior vice president of global public policy and general counsel with 35 years of legal experience, launched a pro bono program. This allowed Amazon to scale its efforts to deploy free legal assistance. This initiative has played a pivotal role in breaking down barriers for underserved communities worldwide.
“Amazon employees were highly engaged in pro bono service long before the pro bono program’s formal launch, but our efforts have expanded greatly on a global scale with a more organized structure in place to help engage and support employees, encourage and facilitate partnerships with law firms and third-party organizations, and provide trainings and other resources for team members across the globe who have a passion for this impactful work,” Sean Croman, vice president and associate general counsel of Amazon’s Legal organization, as well as a member of its pro bono executive committee, shared with AFROTECH™.
Among Amazon’s employees carrying out pro bono work was Gavin Pereira, Amazon’s former associate corporate counsel of devices, Alexa, App Store, Amazon Music, and current Audible corporate counsel. Raised in India, Pereira witnessed the challenges of navigating the judicial system, particularly for underrepresented and marginalized communities. This experience ignited his passion for law, leading him to earn degrees from Jindal Global Law School (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law) and Columbia Law School (Master of Laws). His dedication to pro bono work was evident during his time at Amazon, where he volunteered with the Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s Reentry Legal Services (ReLeSe) Program’s expungement clinic.
“I recall one client who had carried the weight of a decades-old record and wanted to clear it to set a positive example for her grandchild. When I told her she was eligible for expungement, her relief and joy were palpable. It was more than just a legal resolution; it was a step toward reclaiming her future. That experience reinforced for me the profound impact that access to justice can have—not only for individuals but also for the families and communities connected to them,” Pereira said.
Pereira and the work of over 2,200 legal employees have contributed to more than 65,000 volunteer hours globally in areas such as voting rights, wrongful conviction, stable housing, deportation, adoption assistance, resources for artists and arts organizations, and more.
“Pro bono work is vital because it tackles the many barriers—economic, systemic, and social—that prevent people from accessing justice, explained Pereira. “It gives individuals the tools and support to rebuild their lives, whether that means finding stable housing, securing employment, or gaining a sense of dignity and inclusion in society.”
Technology
Amazon’s pro bono work has also been supported by technologies that have made it easier to spark communication, train, and leverage tools designed to share information. This includes an internal pro bono website that allows team members to log and track service hours, create reports and analytics, communicate through virtual and in-person meetings, collaborate on service opportunities, and translate information, among other things.
Croman states that some technological tools were created by Amazon’s internal technology teams, while others were created by other law firms or third-party organizations.
“All of these tools and technologies have proven invaluable in scaling the global reach of our pro bono program, the services we’ve provided, and the people we’ve served over the last decade,” Croman mentioned.
What’s Next
As for what’s ahead, the pro bono program will continue to scale in reach and impact. Amazon intends on ensuring employees can commit to projects that mirror their interests.
“We will continue to take vital cues from our employees around the world who regularly identify and take the lead on new services opportunities relevant to the communities in which they live and work, and we will also continue working to make it as easy as possible for employees – wherever they may be located – to learn about, access, and meaningfully engage in as many opportunities as possible,” Croman expressed.
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