Today, we are announcing an important change at Pro Bono Net and I wanted to share the news with you directly.

 After 25 years with Pro Bono Net, Mark O’Brien has decided to step down as the organization’s executive director to embark on his retirement. His last official day as executive director will be September 1, although he will stay on as a senior advisor to Pro Bono Net until the end of this year to assure a smooth transition to new leadership.

While our board intends to conduct a national search for his successor, I am pleased to announce that we have appointed two long-serving members of the management team as Pro Bono Net’s interim co-directors: Liz Keith, Chief Partnerships Officer, and Rodrigo Camarena, Director of Justicia Lab, PBN’s incubator of immigrant justice technology innovation.

Liz and Rodrigo bring a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to Pro Bono Net’s mission to these new roles. We know we are handing over the reins to two seasoned professionals and we are confident they will continue to fulfill Pro Bono Net’s mission to help everyone get the legal help they need, regardless of background or station in life. You can learn more about both Liz and Rodrigo in this Fast Company op-ed and this recent Chronicle of Philanthropy story.

On behalf of our board, I want to thank Mark for his many years of service, his leadership and his countless contributions to the success of Pro Bono Net and its unparalleled impact. Twenty-five years ago, he and Michael Hertz started Pro Bono Net with a simple idea:  use the power of technology and collaboration to serve as a force multiplier for pro bono legal services delivery.  Since then, under Mark’s leadership, Pro Bono Net has grown into a transformative force for justice across the US. Today, our groundbreaking programs and partnerships serve more than nine million individuals nationally and more than 1.2 million in New York State every year. Hundreds of  legal services, immigrants’ rights and community groups, as well as law firms, corporations, courts and government agencies rely on Pro Bono Net’s tools and resources to amplify their impact. Most importantly, Pro Bono Net is helping individuals access justice and empowering them to assert their rights. 

From that founding idea at the dawn of the Internet era to today, Mark’s dedication has helped create and propel a nationwide movement to harness technology for a more just future. Please join me in wishing Mark well as he embarks on this exciting new chapter.  We are very grateful for the legacy he is leaving us and look forward to building on it in the years to come.

Warmly,

Betty Balli Torres
Pro Bono Net Board Chair