Pro Bono
Solidarity in the legal practice is in our DNA
Pro bono work is part of how our firm understands the practice of law: a profession grounded in a commitment to access to justice and to protecting vulnerable people and causes.
Beyond our paid professional work, we believe that lawyers can and should make a tangible contribution to safeguarding rights, strengthening institutions, and supporting initiatives that make a positive social impact.
Highlights
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Participation in Instituto Pro Bono’s Projeto Audiências de Custódia
- Member of Instituto Pro Bono’s Deliberative Council
- Participation in the Pro Bono Para Quem Quer Pro Bono project — second place in the Lumen Award (2019)
- Participation in Projeto Muiraquitã — winner of the Lumen Award (2020)
- Participation in Projeto + Pro Bono — second place in the Lumen Award (2022)
Anyone looking at João Rassi’s professional trajectory, which took him from some of the country’s most prominent corporate law firms to becoming a partner at Siqueira Castro, might think that he has achieved everything a legal career could offer. But Rassi doesn’t see it that way.
A descendant of a family that experienced firsthand the repression of Brazil’s military dictatorship, Rassi grew up with the belief that helping others is a basic principle: “we do it because we want to, without needing to keep score or show it off.” This sense of humility and respect for others becomes evident when speaking with the attorney, who holds a doctorate from the University of São Paulo (USP).
Last year, the Pro Bono Institute was developing a pilot program to provide legal assistance at custody hearings and invited Rassi to learn more about the project. He offered his critiques, paid close attention to the details to ensure everything would work properly, and before he knew it, he was participating himself, donating many hours of his own time, as well as that of his team, to the most complex initiative the Institute had ever undertaken.
It was almost by chance that he joined the team of attorneys whom the Institute trained and continues to train to provide qualified legal defense at custody hearings in the judicial district of Itapecerica da Serra. His extensive technical and academic knowledge, combined with his strong ethical standards and commitment, have made a real difference in the project. These are essential qualities when confronting a justice system that is ill-prepared and prejudiced against people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“At a time when the world is closing in on itself and people are increasingly distancing themselves from one another, I make a point of developing professionals who are humane,” Rassi emphasizes. “That is what makes us Brazilian: keeping our feet on the ground and learning humility. As long as I hold on to this feeling, I can believe that I am a good lawyer,” he adds.