Tips for New Lawyers Who Want to Participate in Pro Bono
No matter what kind of opportunities you find, you can successfully commit to pro bono service as a new lawyer. These tips can balance concerns about readiness or the appropriateness of learning through pro bono with a desire to get involved early in your career.
Equal Dignity and Respect
Treat pro bono clients with the same level of dignity and respect as your paying clients. You cannot let your biases cloud your legal and ethical responsibility to your client. Consistency in your approach demonstrates a commitment to justice for all.
Reliability
Show up for your pro bono commitments. If you must cancel, try to find a colleague to cover your volunteer shift. Cancellations can burden the staff and leave clients without representation.
Set the Client Up for Success
You are asked to volunteer because alternative services are scarce. Approach each case as if it is your client's last chance to secure legal representation. You play a critical role in clients achieving their goals. Further, you may be the only advocate that the client has had. Take charge by preparing the necessary paperwork, offering clear and meaningful next steps, and avoiding the pitfalls of intricate referrals or dead ends.
Invest Time
Pro bono work may require additional time and effort, but the impact can be profound. Dedicate the necessary resources to ensure thorough and effective representation.
Clear Communication with Clients and Pro Bono Programs
Maintain open lines of communication with your pro bono clients. Clear and transparent communication is essential for building trust and ensuring clients are well informed about the progress of their cases. Seek guidance from pro bono and legal aid professionals to develop effective communication strategies, incorporating trauma-informed lawyering principles when needed.
Learn from the Experts
Pro bono programs often have expert staff who can support volunteers, ensuring they feel confident in their roles. Staff can be a great resource in understanding the relevant legal process, the client community, and potential resources available to clients. New volunteers may be assigned mentors who offer guidance through shadowing, case reviews, and co-counseling, enhancing the learning experience.
Make an Impact
Volunteering has the power to impact someone's life meaningfully. Take, for instance, a pro bono attorney who successfully obtained pardons for a client with two felony convictions. This legal support was vital in making the client eligible for employment in their desired field. Now, the client can pursue a degree and career as an x-ray or pharmacy technician without the hindrance of past convictions.
Use Unique Skills and Expertise
As a lawyer, you possess unique skills, expertise, and privileges. Pro bono work allows you to leverage these abilities to make a tangible impact, addressing the legal needs of individuals who cannot afford representation. Pro bono cases provide invaluable opportunities to develop and enhance these skills. Pro bono programs provide free training to prepare you for this work.
Bridge the Justice Gap
Pro bono work serves as a bridge in the pursuit of justice, ensuring that individuals without financial means still have access to legal representation. Your contribution helps level the playing field, promoting fairness and equity within the legal system. For example, typical pro bono clinics will see a 90 percent success rate in dismissing evictions.
Fulfill Ethical Obligations
Many jurisdictions have an ethical duty for lawyers to provide pro bono service each year. You fulfill this obligation by engaging in pro bono work, contributing to the broader goal of promoting equal access to justice.
Pro Bono Is an Opportunity to Contribute to a More Inclusive Society
Engaging in pro bono work is not just a professional duty but an opportunity to contribute to a more inclusive society. By embracing diverse opportunities, using your unique skills, and committing to ethical and reliable practice, you can make a meaningful impact while gaining valuable experiences that will shape your legal career.