This summer, the D.C. legal community once again rallied together with extraordinary generosity, raising more than $4.27 million for Legal Aid DC during the 2025 Making Justice Real Campaign. This total surpassed last year’s record by over $500,000, demonstrating the deep and growing commitment to civil legal services for low-income residents across the District.

The campaign makes up more than one-quarter of Legal Aid’s budget, and because of its success this year, Legal Aid plans to hire a new attorney in the Public Benefits Unit.

“We are beyond grateful for the enthusiasm and generosity firms brought to this year’s campaign,” said Legal Aid Executive Director Vikram Swaruup. “Especially this year, given the challenges with the D.C. budget, this support will allow us to serve more clients across the city and expand our reach to communities most in need.”

This year’s campaign ran from June 23 to August 1 with more than 4,700 donors and 75 firms. Firm coordinators organized a string of fun events to encourage their colleagues to give, including a bake-off at Debevoise, a “pie a partner” event at Kelley Drye, a bocce ball tournament at Steptoe, a concert at Hunton Andrews Kurth, a “celebrity bartender” event at Latham & Watkins, and a cornhole tournament at King & Spalding, plus happy hours, auctions, lunches, and more.

“This campaign rallies lawyers to support lawyers — to help ensure that the District’s neediest residents have legal representation when they need it the most. The DC legal community’s incredible show of unity and commitment to raise these historic funds in just a few short weeks is truly inspiring,” said Leah Quadrino of Steptoe, who served as Honorary Chair of the campaign along with Melanie Nussdorf, also of Steptoe.

The campaign is organized as a friendly competition among participating law firms. Latham & Watkins took first place for the 11th year in a row, raising more than $370,000, followed by Williams & Connolly, which became just the second firm to raise over $300,000 in the campaign’s 35-year history. (Check out the top five firms in each size category below.)

Other firms also broke their own fundraising records this year. 

“Access to legal support is essential, and I’m proud that Cooley continues to step up to help strengthen our community here in the District,” said Danny Grooms, a member of Legal Aid’s Board of Trustees and a partner at Cooley, which raised more than $175,000.

Legal Aid is incredibly grateful for every donor who contributed to the 2025 Making Justice Real Campaign and for all the firms that participated!