Grace Poe is a partner in the DLA Piper LLP (US) Real Estate group representing a number of significant clients who rely on her thoughtful legal advice.  Such a practice could consume all of the time, energy and passion of many lawyers.  However, Grace feels the responsibility to utilize her talents to further the ideals of the legal profession and to improve her community.

Grace has exhibited this energy and commitment regularly over her ten years at DLA Piper. The most recent example was when the national office of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law called on her to develop, organize and lead the Election Protection Project in Chicago in a matter of just three weeks.  The project’s mission was to help ensure that all eligible American citizens have the opportunity to cast a meaningful vote, particularly people in traditionally disenfranchised communities. On Illinois’ primary day in 2008, Grace ran the first ever Chicago-based Election Protection hotline for voters and is leading the team as it gears up for the November election.

This is just the most recent example of Grace’s initiative and contribution.  Over the last ten years she has worked on several projects for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, from representing the organization in structuring the pilot Chicago’s Community Kitchen program to recruiting volunteers and participating in food pack nights.  Throughout her career, Grace has also used her legal skills to help the less fortunate in other ways, including serving as a volunteer attorney at the CVLS/DLA Piper Asian American Legal Services Clinic and participating in the firm’s Life without Parole Project.