On September 24, 2019, Jipyong declared the first-ever law firm commitment to "social value management" to commemorate the fifth anniversary of its non-profit organization, DUROO. Jipyong established Duroo as a non-profit entity to provide pro bono legal services and defend the rights of the socially-underprivileged.
Managing Partner, Sung Taek Lim, explained the background behind the firm’s commitment, observing that "'social value management' mandates corporations to create 'social value' as well as 'economic value' and is becoming an important paradigm, both in Korea and abroad. Law firms – as organizations of professionals charged by the Lawyers Act with the mission to defend human rights and realize social justice – should take the lead ahead of corporations in realizing social value."
To that end, Jipyong has committed to do the following:
▲ Establish a 'social value committee' and system for social value management, with necessary staffing and resources; ▲ Conduct the firm’s recruiting efforts, provide legal services, manage client relations and participate in the broader legal community with the advancement of social values in mind; ▲ Prioritize at least one social task each year for firm-wide execution; ▲ Support the realization of social values by companies, public institutions and civic associations; and ▲ Expand Duroo to 20 full-time lawyers dedicated to pro bono activities to achieve its mission of defending the socially-underprivileged and resolving social issues.
Jipyong has also increased its attorneys' minimum 'pro bono' hours requirement from the legally mandated 20 hours to 30 hours per year, and plans to realize social value through the support of social ventures, impact investment, social enterprises and corporate human rights management.
On September 26, Duroo celebrated its fifth anniversary with an event entitled 'Five Years of Duroo – See, Speak, Listen'. More than 110 sponsors, activists and activist groups participated in the celebration, which Duroo used to share its accomplishments of the last five years and vision for the future.
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