“Public Service: How Lawyers Can Help the Community” is the theme for the May/June 2023 issue of the GPSolo magazine. Lawyers are privileged with an education that leads to opportunities to assist others without this specialized knowledge. And there are other ways to serve your community, including working as a nonprofit lawyer or volunteering to assist in the area where you live.
May 23, 2023 Upcoming in the May/June Issue of GPSolo Magazine
Public Service
By Randi Brent Starrett
David H. Lefton, recently recognized with the GPSolo Division Award for Making a Difference Through Service to the Profession, writes about why you can’t afford not to do pro bono and explains how his service has positively impacted his practice. Brenda Lopez explains the personal and professional benefits of active service in bar associations, while Nery L. Alonso details how to get involved with legal aid organizations through their legal clinics.
Chisa J. Putnam explains the importance of reaching out to new lawyers by becoming a mentor. Additionally, three lawyers—Andrea L. Rodricks, Lynae A. Tucker-Chellew, and Nicola Wood—describe a day in their lives working in nonprofit organizations. Other articles discuss service to legal education, practicing community service, and volunteering as a moot court coach or judge.
Focusing on the fun side of volunteering, Christy Albano writes about the Dallas Bar Association’s Bar None Show, the annual musical variety show that raises funds for diversity scholarships at local law schools.
Other features in this issue include “The Dark Side of Crowdfunding: Goodwill and Ill Intent” by Elizabeth E. Derry and Al Harrison’s article on how to turn your laptop into an instant office using an inexpensive USB hub.
Along with the magazine’s Best of ABA Sections digested articles, this issue’s regular columns include highlights such as James Ellis Arden’s “Techno Ethics,” in which he asks ChatGPT about pro bono legal services, and our new “Sailing Solo” column, which debuts with Ivette Kuyateh’s tips for solo practitioners on serving their communities.
Whether you are dancing and singing with fellow lawyers, working with a local nonprofit, or volunteering at a local legal clinic, you can give back to your community. This public service issue of the GPSolo magazine suggests ideas and opportunities to be of service beyond your day-to-day law practice.
Published in GPSolo eReport, Volume 12, Number 10, May 2023. © 2023 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association. The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the American Bar Association or the Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division.