John Jacob: Attorney, Pro Bono Champion, Donor.

The DC Bar Foundation is fortunate to have loyal donors whose generosity helps make our work to expand access to justice possible.

This month, we spoke with John Jacob, who leads the health care and life sciences practice at Akin’s Washington, DC, office. He also recruits, mentors, and supervises Akin attorneys who represent pro bono clients of our grantee partner The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

Mr. Jacob joined the DC Bar Foundation’s 77 Society in 2025 and has supported our DC Walk for Justice 5K since its 2024 debut. We recently asked him what giving to the DC Bar Foundation (DCBF) means to him:

DCBF: How and when did you learn about us?

Jacob: I have known about the DC Bar Foundation for as long as I have been practicing law in DC, which has been for almost 33 years. I have also been a proud member of the board of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless since 2008 and have served as both its president and treasurer. I know first-hand that the General Support Grants from the DC Bar Foundation to the Legal Clinic have provided important and meaningful funds that have helped the Legal Clinic do the work of securing housing justice for all residents of Washington, DC.  

DCBF: You have been named the DC Bar's 2026 Laura N. Rinaldi Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year! What does pro bono work and supporting legal services in the District mean to you?

Jacob: First, I have to say that I am very humbled and honored to have been named the DC Bar's 2026 Laura N. Rinaldi Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. This is about more than me and the honor surely extends to my incredible Akin team. My pro bono work, like working with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, has always meant recognizing that justice should not depend on a person’s income, housing status, or ability to navigate complex legal systems alone.

I have been privileged to work alongside extraordinary Akin colleagues, legal services organizations, and advocates who meet our neighbors with dignity, persistence, and practical help when the stakes are deeply personal. Supporting that work, and that of other DC-based legal services providers, is both a professional obligation and a profound reminder that lawyers have the tools and training to make a truly positive impact on people, communities, and organizations in need.

DCBF: You have been a generous supporter of the DC Walk for Justice 5K since our inaugural event in 2024. What about the Walk inspires you to give to the DC Bar Foundation?

Jacob: Quite simply it’s the way the DC Walk for Justice brings together the DC legal, business, and civic communities to highlight a shared commitment to equal access to justice. To be sure, supporting civil legal aid is not the work of any one organization or profession alone, but collectively what we can accomplish is truly powerful and uplifting.