Many attorneys volunteer by using their skills and knowledge to help others with pro bono work. However, I want to challenge you to look outside of the field of law for your next volunteer opportunity. We are often so involved in our own bar association activities that we aren’t aware of the vast number of other opportunities to give back to our communities. We need to dedicate time in our schedules to nonlegal activities, and volunteering provides an oft-needed break from the legal world and benefits our mental and physical health.
Benefits of Volunteering
Research suggests that people who volunteer experience a boost in their mental health, which is especially good news as over a third of Americans are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, and we know that the legal profession has higher rates of mental health difficulties compared with the general population. In a study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers examined data from nearly 70,000 research participants who completed surveys about their volunteering habits and mental health over 18 years. Contrasted against people who didn’t volunteer, people who had volunteered in the past year reported being more satisfied with their lives and rated their overall health as better. Further, the researchers found that people who volunteered more frequently experienced greater benefits: those who volunteered at least monthly reported better mental health than participants who volunteered more infrequently or not at all.
Many nonprofit organizations are offering opportunities to volunteer remotely from home during the pandemic. While research hasn’t directly compared this to traditional in-person volunteering, it is likely that remote volunteer opportunities would benefit our well-being.
