It is a great challenge to pull together a group of legal people in an association that would be of great help for implementing the rule of law and justice worldwide. So did Christina Storm, who in her 50th anniversary established a global network of volunteer lawyers. The Lawyers Without Borders has become a realization of her lifelong dream of being involved into law questions in the international context.

Today, the Lawyers Without Borders boasts for some eight hundred members, donated space for a headquarters in Hartford, Conn., the praise of the United Nations and a variety of volunteer interns. The association is the world's largest group of volunteer lawyers, who support the rule of law initiatives, human rights and legal capacity building projects.

However, the group is still in its initial stage of development and actively works on increasing a partnership support among New York attorneys, their firms and legal academe. Nevertheless, regardless its young age, the association is already described as a highly unique movement of attorneys. Ms. Storm emphasizes their difference "We think the world needs neutrals. There are many advocacy organizations out there already, and the work is well done. We do not want to do what somebody else is doing unless we can do it better."

The stated mission of the Lawyers Without Borders is: a neutral legal support for non-government organizations worldwide; a support for foreign "lawyers at risk"; a neutral observation of closed trials, conflicts and tribunals; a clearinghouse service for international pro bono projects, human rights events and fellowships, and employment opportunities.

The Lawyers Without Borders maintains an international e-mail network, which is of a great benefit for all members. It is a possibility to make connections around the world and do good work together. Today's global projects of the Lawyers Without Borders include consulting the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a non-government agency, administering the war crimes trial procedure in Kosovo. In addition, the Lawyers Without Borders members work with an American Bar Association project, involving the monitoring and reporting of federal detainee conditions in U.S. prison facilities.

How do the organizations, cooperating with the Lawyers Without Borders, benefit? The Association provides a support to projects and initiatives in the human rights and nation building sectors, which seek a legal help at no or significantly discounted cost. The Lawyers Without Borders is capable of matching internationally oriented law firms and volunteer lawyers to non-profit organizations throughout the globe. The Lawyers Without Borders organizes missions to regions, emerging from a conflict.

The volunteer members support the development and growth of the association through the non-partisan research in the Rule of Law, Human Rights and Information analysis. They write reports on the topics pointed out above, publish newsletters and concept papers. They develop their professionalism through attending the Human Rights conferences, United Nations sessions, educational and training programs on a self-funded basis.

Undoubtedly, "Without Borders" associations join unique people, eager to help others. The Grantmakers Without Borders is an association with similar to the Lawyers Without Help objective to provide a support, but with a different scope of activity. The association comprises a network of trustees, a staff of private and public foundations and individual donors, who practice the global social change philanthropy.