October 2024
At Hanson Bridgett, we celebrate our people, the inclusive workplace culture, and the communities where we work and live: they are the heartbeat of our firm. These are the stories of our values in action. The current happenings and the vibrant individuals behind the scenes and legal matters. Don’t miss a beat.
WATCH NOW: Belonging at Hanson Bridgett
Meet partner Jahmal Davis: People person. Community advocate. As a Management Committee leader, he’s elevating what it means to be a values-driven lawyer.
This month, October 20-26, the firm will proudly celebrate and participate in Pro Bono Week. If there’s anyone at the firm who embodies the spirit of giving back and leading by example, it’s Jahmal Davis. The Labor and Employment partner made a career leap 20 years ago in coming from a public defender’s office to Hanson Bridgett, bringing with him a contagious passion for social responsibility and contributing to the greater good.
Given the high-stakes decisions and constant demands of his trial work, it’s fitting that Jahmal may be found playing a round of golf, casting a line, or hitting the open road on his motorcycle during a holiday. But when it comes to his work at Hanson Bridgett, he’s most interested in connecting with people, getting to know them, and helping them solve a problem – the “human element” of the job. That includes his enthusiasm for working with children from under-resourced communities, who often don’t have the means or the voice to solve complex problems on their own.
To help make a difference, Jahmal launched our longtime pro bono partnership with Legal Services for Children (LSC), the nonprofit dedicated to providing free representation to children and youth who require legal assistance to stabilize their lives and realize their full potential. The organization provides legal services for children and youth in school expulsion proceedings, guardianship proceedings, and asylum cases.
“Children from poor neighborhoods face certain things that destabilize their entire lives,” Jahmal explains, referencing things like lack of exposure to role models or mentors, the absence of necessary resources to thrive in school, and the knowledge of how to go about accessing such resources. “I tell them, ‘I’ve been where you are. I believe in you.’“ He’s seen the results firsthand and understands the power of doing the work when it comes to getting involved.
That commitment to giving back, mentoring others, and serving on the LSC Board has inspired fellow partners and set a powerful precedent for how our team members can actively engage with local organizations and live our values. LSC’s visibility within our firm began to grow and our Pro Bono Committee continues to build on the longstanding partnership.
As we lead up to Pro Bono Week, Jahmal’s dedication serves as a call to action for us all: Build connections in the community, foster trust, and make meaningful change. For Jahmal, the job has always been about helping others. It’s what makes him an exceptional lawyer and leader on our Management Committee, and it’s a key differentiator for clients: his work always transcends the strict business of law. As he puts it: “When you’re able to engage with people and meet people where they are, helping them with not just the legal parts of what they’re struggling with, but the human parts… that’s a significant victory.”
