Beyond the Billable Hour: Jonathan Baum’s Blueprint for Justice in Big Law

CHICAGO, IL – August 04, 2026 – This month, the American Bar Association (ABA) bestowed its prestigious John H. Pickering Award of Achievement upon Jonathan Baum, the longtime Director of Pro Bono Services at the law firm Katten. While any national award from the ABA is a significant honor, this one feels different. It’s not just a recognition of a successful career; it’s an acknowledgment of a fundamental shift in how a large, profitable law firm can integrate social responsibility into its very DNA. Baum’s three-decade tenure isn't merely a story of charitable work—it’s a case study in strategic, systemic change, offering a replicable blueprint for how innovation can meet profound human need.

The Pickering Award, co-sponsored by several ABA commissions dedicated to civil rights and legal aid, specifically honors those who champion equal justice and uphold the highest ethical standards. In receiving it, Baum joins a distinguished list of legal professionals. But to understand his impact, one must look past the award itself and into the machinery he built.

A Pioneer in Pro Bono

When Jonathan Baum became Katten's Director of Pro Bono Services in 1993, the role itself was a novelty. He was among a small handful of law firm partners in the entire country to pivot exclusively to pro bono work. At the time, for many large firms, pro bono was often an ad-hoc, ancillary activity. Baum envisioned something different: a professionally managed, fully integrated function that was as central to the firm’s identity as any of its billable practice areas.

"When Jonathan joined our Chicago office more than three decades ago, he set out to make pro bono part of our ethos," said Katten Chairman Gil Soffer. "Today, pro bono is not just a program. It is embedded in our culture and is a source of pride shared across every office and practice."

This cultural shift from program to ethos is the core of Baum's achievement. He professionalized the practice of giving back. Instead of waiting for attorneys to raise their hands, he built a system to proactively match them with opportunities that aligned with their skills and passions. The firm’s portfolio now spans some of society’s most pressing legal challenges, from representing refugees seeking asylum and fighting racial discrimination in housing, to providing corporate governance for nonprofits and defending local gun safety regulations on behalf of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

For Baum, this work is not an act of charity, but a fundamental obligation. "I see this award as honoring pro bono itself, not me," he stated. "Refugees fleeing oppression need champions. People facing discrimination need someone in their corner... As lawyers, we have a professional responsibility – and the privilege – to make sure access to justice isn't determined by a person's resources."

The Blueprint for Impact: The Katten Legal Clinic

Nowhere is Baum’s model of tangible difference more evident than at the Jose de Diego Community Academy, a public school in Chicago. In 2013, in partnership with Legal Aid Chicago, Baum launched the Katten Legal Clinic, one of the first legal aid clinics in the nation to be housed directly within an urban public school. This wasn't just about convenience; it was a strategic move to dismantle barriers to access.

By placing legal services in a trusted community hub, the clinic meets people where they are. Families facing eviction, immigration issues, or domestic disputes don't have to navigate a complex and intimidating legal system alone. They can get help from Katten attorneys in the same building where their children learn. Since its inception, the clinic has served more than 2,000 clients, providing stability for families and, by extension, the entire school community.

The model’s success, which earned Katten the ABA's Pro Bono Publico Award, has created a powerful ripple effect. "My hope is that more of us will dedicate more time to give these clients the help they need," Baum said. His hope has become a reality. He is particularly proud that several other major Chicago law firms have since followed Katten's lead, partnering with Legal Aid Chicago to establish their own community-based clinics. This is the ultimate measure of an effective strategy: not just its own success, but its ability to be replicated and scaled.

Cultivating a Culture of Service

Embedding pro bono into a firm’s culture requires more than just a visionary leader; it requires robust internal systems that encourage and reward participation. Over his career, Baum has meticulously woven these systems into Katten’s operational fabric.

One of the most enduring is the Katten Pro Bono Service Awards, a program he created over 25 years ago. It not only recognizes attorneys for their outstanding contributions but also provides each awardee with a $1,000 donation to a charity of their choice, connecting their legal work to the broader ecosystem of social good. The firm also surveys its attorneys annually on their pro bono interests, allowing for a more organic and fulfilling matchmaking process.

The results speak for themselves. The firm contributes tens of thousands of pro bono hours each year, with roughly two-thirds of its attorneys participating—a figure that aligns with the highest-performing firms in the legal industry. This commitment is a key part of the firm's identity, highlighted in recruitment materials and credited with enhancing attorney skill development, professional satisfaction, and retention. It demonstrates that investing in community service is not a cost center, but a strategic asset that strengthens the entire organization.

Pro Bono in the Age of 'Big Law'

Jonathan Baum’s career arc mirrors the evolution of pro bono within the legal industry. The concept of a full-time, partner-level pro bono director, once a rarity, is now a best practice, with around 150 firms having adopted the model. Large law firms, with their vast resources and specialized expertise, have become indispensable pillars in the fight to bridge America’s vast "justice gap," where millions lack access to legal representation.

According to the Pro Bono Institute, the largest law firms in the country collectively contributed over 5 million hours of pro bono service in 2025. This is not just a matter of corporate altruism; it is a critical response to a societal need. Baum's work at Katten serves as a powerful testament to what is possible when one person, backed by institutional commitment, dedicates their career to this cause.

His legacy is not just in the cases won or the clients served, but in the creation of a durable, effective, and inspiring model for how corporate law can be a powerful force for public good. It proves that with the right architecture, compassion can be built to scale.