Google is a company that believes deeply in entrepreneurship. And this is a company that believes deeply in the power of information. We don’t think there’s another organization that combines these two things in a more compelling way than Ashoka.
Advocates for Social Entrepreneurs
Living the Law
The legal profession across the globe faces a critical period of transition and consolidation. The concept of pro bono work is often not an established cultural norm around the world; in some countries, pro bono work is subtly discouraged or overtly prohibited. Consequently, communities lack the legal advice and representation that would allow them to live the laws entitled to them on paper, but less so in practice. Meanwhile, social entrepreneurs find themselves in dire need of legal support as they navigate legal hurdles, strengthen their organizations, and struggle to transform their communities.
Ashoka’s Advocates for Social Entrepreneurs (ASE) program promotes the culture of pro bono within the legal profession globally. ASE links social entrepreneurs to pro bono lawyers and public interest legal networks, working towards a world in which all individuals and communities may access legal recourse, full citizenship, and equal protection under the law.
Ashoka’s networks of pro bono support offer social entrepreneurs legal support in areas of:
- public interest litigation
- intellectual property
- organizational structure, tax law, and legal status
- strategic legal research
- human rights defense
Click here for examples of ASE’s legal support to Ashoka Fellows