A group of law firms in the greater Washington area have joined together to participate in the third year of a community service summer program in conjunction with D.C. Habitat for Humanity called “Buildable Hours.”  The Buildable Hours team of law firms will provide fiscal and physical resources to build a Habitat home in Northeast Washington, D.C.

The Buildable Hours project provides law firms with the opportunity to build upon the volunteer work that many associates and summer associates started at college chapters of Habitat for Humanity.  The team grew this year to 24 participating firms from last years 17 firms.  Buildable Hours partners include major law firms such as:  Latham & Watkins LLP, Caplin & Drysdale, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Alston & Bird LLP, Baker Botts LLP, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, McKee Nelson LLP, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, Miller & Chevalier Chartered, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Patton Boggs LLP, Piper Rudnick LLP, Reed Smith LLP, Ross Dixon & Bell LLP, Shaw Pittman LLP, Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, and Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman, LLP.  The project has also expanded nationally with new Buildable Hours teams now in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and Omaha.

Each Buildable Hours partner is making a financial contribution to Habitat for Humanity.  In addition, 13 to 17 attorneys, summer clerks, and staff from each law firm will work on the job site for one day.  Participation will promote team building and give participating firms a unique sense of community involvement.  Last year, the Buildable Hours program contributed financially and physically to the building of a home for Elizabeth Dockery and her 3 sons, DeAngelo, Christopher, and DaQuan.  By partnering with Habitat for Humanity, Buildable Hours partners are able to help provide deserving individuals such as Elizabeth Dockery with a safe, decent place to live and raise their families.

“Buildable Hours provides law firms and summer associates a unique way to relate to each other while making a lasting contribution to the community.  The power of the program was demonstrated to us last summer when we saw summer clerks actually writing checks to Habitat,” said Roger Goldman, Latham & Watkins partner and event organizer.