Marlene Halpern

Marlene Halpern

Center for Reproductive Rights

Director of Pro Bono Services

 Marlene joined the Center for Reproductive Rights in 2013 and is responsible for developing, maintaining, and expanding relationships with law firms to leverage effective legal support for the Center’s our U.S. and Global programs, as well as corporate legal needs. Under her leadership, the total valuation of pro bono services to the Center has grown from $4.7 million to over $17.26 million per year through a network of 650 attorneys working at law firm offices in more than 50 countries.

Marlene has also spoken extensively at U.S., global, and bar association events on the integration of pro bono relationships into the Center’s work and how NGOs can partner successfully with law firms.  Prior to joining the Center, Marlene was the Supervising Attorney for Pro Bono with The Legal Aid Society in New York City. During her long public service career, she served as the Family Law Coordinator for Legal Services for New York City, a senior welfare policy analyst with Children’s Defense Fund –NY, and an assistant clinical law professor at Hofstra Law School. Marlene is a lecturer-in-law with Columbia Law School, where she co-teaches the Externship on Pro Bono Practice and Access to Justice.