Monica Johnson, the assistant general counsel for Ventura Foods, is making that dream a reality, despite the fact that her legal department only has three employees. She’s always been interested in giving back, and she saw the opportunity at Ventura to start a pro bono program that would do just that.

Three years in, Ventura’s three-person, “small but mighty” team has provided legal help for local students, veterans and entrepreneurs. Corporate Counsel spoke with Johnson about how the program began and the challenges of pro bono in a smaller department. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.