Pro bono spotlight: Amy Rapoport

Access to justice relies on attorneys showing up where needs are the greatest. Amy Rapoport, a principal attorney editor at Thomson Reuters and member of their MSP Pro Bono Steering Committee, exemplifies this commitment through her pro bono work with Anishinabe Legal Services, the Advocates for Human Rights, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and Volunteer Lawyers Network. Rapoport also serves on the Asylum Coalition for Transition—Twin Cities (ACT–TC) board, and on MSBA’s Access to Justice Committee Pro Bono Council.

Rapoport’s recent pro bono work has focused on full-representation matters, primarily in immigration law, with additional work in family law. She sees pro bono as a way to address critical needs in the justice system. “It’s a practical way to bridge the access to justice gap, which is particularly a need in Greater Minnesota. The legal system can be overwhelming, especially in family law and immigration matters where the stakes are high.” While she hopes technology and AI will eventually expand access at a broad level, she emphasizes that “having a lawyer who can listen, exercise judgment, and advocate thoughtfully still makes a real difference for clients.”

Rapoport treats pro bono as a professional responsibility, noting, “Thomson Reuters provides 36 hours of paid volunteer time each year for pro bono work, which is a huge support, but I also do a significant amount of this work on my own time because it matters to me.” 

Rapoport highlights the importance of patience, meeting clients where they are, and the vital role nonprofit organizations play. “I’d like attorneys to know how critical organizations like Anishinabe Legal Services are for Greater Minnesota,” she reflects. “There is a great need for legal help in rural communities, and volunteering even from a distance can have a meaningful impact.”