“Creating a thriving economy is never easy in Africa - insufficient investment, poor infrastructure, cumbersome logistics, red tape and corruption are all constant challenges.”

That’s what one frustrated student told my New Perimeter colleagues, Claire, Martin, Aline, Christine, and me on our first day of teaching a one-week LLM course on Special Economic Zones (SEZs) at the University of Pretoria last month.

Two lovely October days found me back in Mexico City working on New Perimeter’s project with Mexico Appleseed. Mexico Appleseed has joined hands with the most prestigious universities and law schools in Mexico City to teach law students the importance of using their legal skills and education to help others. With the assistance of New Perimeter as well as several of the prominent lawyers and general counsel who serve on their Board of Directors, Mexico Appleseed is doing great work to improve access to justice and encourage a culture of pro bono among future lawyers in Mexico. These are the keys for increasing the availability of legal services to needy communities.

On September 27-29, 2011 an international team of lawyers provided a three-day legal skills training to staff at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), South Africa’s national human rights institution.  The New Perimeter team included: Christine Jesseman, Khaya Mantengu, Deshni Naidoo and Matthew Ward (DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Johannesburg); Daniel Creasey (DLA Piper, Melbourne), Silvia Farre (DLA Piper, London), and Sara Andrews and Joshua Sohn (DLA Piper, New York).  The training took place at the SAHRC’s headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa and was provided to approximately 30 legal services staff members.

If you’d asked me in law school whether I would one day have the opportunity and privilege to teach at Mexico’s most prestigious law schools to some of Mexico’s most talented students, I would have answered “no” … emphatically! But here I was in Mexico as a part of DLA Piper’s New Perimeter project to assist in creating a sustainable pro bono culture and network in Mexico. It was an unforgettable experience. To be a quasi law professor for a couple of days, to be an ambassador of DLA Piper and, more importantly, to be an ambassador of the American tradition of pro bono service, have been highlights in my legal career.