The organization recently celebrated “And Justice for All: An ABA Day of Service,” on Oct. 30 and it was designed to get lawyers involved in helping those who have difficult financial situations. The day capped off National Celebrate Pro Bono Week, Oct. 25 to Oct. 31, and sought to recruit volunteers, increase legal services to the poor, increase community involvement and recognize the contributions of lawyers who provide those services, according to information from the ABA.
Mary K. Ryan of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP is the chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and she said working free of charge is important for a number of reasons. “Lawyers have a chance to give back – and that is one of the most satisfying experiences a lawyer can have,” she said.
Lawyers are in a position to spark action from others in the legal community, she says. “As lawyers, we believe there should be a justice system that works for everyone in our society and right now, there is a justice gap. The poor and even those who are above poverty levels face significant legal problems concerning fundamental issues that involve shelter, sustenance, safety, health, or child custody on their own, very often to their detriment,” she says. “Pro bono is one of the tools in the tool box to help meet this need. When lawyers step up, we can better persuade our other justice partners like the legislature or private donors to do their part and fund legal services at adequate levels.”
The website was set up to centralize information related to pro bono activities. It features planning tips, a designated page for bar associations, law firms, law schools and judicial circuits and an interactive map showing where pro bono celebrations were taking place, according to information from the ABA.
Some of the events registered were:
- A veterans’ wills clinic in Boise, Idaho
- A prisoner re-entry help clinic in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- A clinic for cancer patients in Louisville, Ky.
- Volunteering at the Atlanta Community Food Bank in Georgia as part of pro bono activities set up by the Coco-Cola Company Legal Department
- An ask-a-lawyer clinic in North Little Rock, Ark.
“Lawyers provide more pro bono service than any other profession. Pro bono work not only improves the profession and advances the rule of law, it also shows the nation that lawyers matter, and helps make our nation’s pledge of ‘justice for all’ a reality,” said ABA President Paulette Brown.
Ryan said one of her personal favorite pro bono initiatives is Online Tennessee Justice, a website that allows eligible clients to post inquires to lawyers, who in turn respond with information regarding the particular question they are addressing. “Both parties can do this from any location, at any time. This is such a success that the ABA Pro Bono Committee has adopted this model and is working to create a national website based on it,” she said.
Feel free to let us know in the comments section how you participated in Pro Bono Week, or if you have suggestions for an event or initiative.