The Value of Volunteer Work and Legal Access

Millions of people who do not have access to attorneys find it difficult to navigate the judicial system. Lawyers, whether recently graduated from law school or with years of experience, are in a unique position to assist people who are most in need. Many people find that practicing law is more fulfilling when they engage in pro bono work because it is consistent with their personal principles. However, how does it really help legal practices and individual attorneys?

Developing stronger communities

Many lawyers decide to give of their time for pro bono work because they feel it is their moral obligation to assist individuals who cannot afford legal representation. As a result, they support a more fair and equitable society by bolstering their local communities and assisting in closing the justice gap. Additionally, pro bono work frequently results in partnerships with other professions and nonprofits that have a similar interest in the problem at hand. This facilitates the growth of lawyers' professional networks and creates chances for future initiatives. Pro bono activity also has the ability to improve a company's standing in the public eye. This is especially true in trying times, when Americans are naturally motivated to do good deeds. For instance, by integrating pro bono efforts into business cultures, Microsoft and Entergy have taken action to support these programs. They have also incorporated it into yearly performance assessments and salaries, which has encouraged staff members to take part.

Boosting the company's image

Pro bono work has many advantages for law firms that support the long-term viability and financial stability of the company. These include cultivating employee engagement, drawing in talent, and improving the company's reputation. Working on pro bono initiatives with clients can also lead to new business prospects and improve client loyalty. Additionally, practicing pro bono gives lawyers a platform to support advocacy campaigns and policy changes that advance justice access. Despite the rigors of their profession, attorneys frequently discover that the pleasures and challenges of pro bono work are personally fulfilling. In addition, a great deal of lawyers are driven to help the underprivileged by their morals, religion, and a general sense of duty to improve society. Furthermore, a lot of companies have policies and initiatives in place to support their pro bono work. These models differ in the specific ways they work, but they usually include a single point of contact and a well-defined system for matching lawyers with pro bono cases.

Strengthening connections with clients

Pro bono work provides an array of opportunities for professional development in an industry where industry experience, innovative problem-solving, "outside the box" issue spotting, and connecting the dots are among lawyers' most prized qualities. Associate representation of the firm's paying customers can greatly benefit from the real-world experience provided in these instances, which can propel associates to roles and responsibilities that are larger (see Cummings, supra). Pro bono initiatives also give attorneys access to judges, paralegals, and law students—all of whom are frequently future clients. In the new economy, where commercial contacts may be more tightly related to social responsibility projects, this can significantly expand the lawyer's professional network. Particularly in trying times, Americans tend to be generous and altruistic people. Our society benefits from pro bono work by fostering that natural sense of camaraderie. This is, in the end, the most important justification for businesses to encourage and support pro bono work.

Improving the Financial Sustainability of the Company

In the legal industry, billable hours are the primary criterion that determines the work schedules of many attorneys. Associates frequently struggle to manage a full workload with a life outside of the workplace and feel overburdened by the demands of their jobs. Associates can obtain important experience early in their careers by taking on pro bono matters without having to worry about hitting billing targets. Additionally, the work may expose them to skills like drafting legal opinions, taking depositions, and fighting matters in court that they might not otherwise encounter in the course of their regular practice. Their early experience helps them later on when they become junior partners or handle more complex cases in their practice. Additionally, companies that actively engage in pro bono work can showcase their social responsibility credentials to prospective clientele. They can thereby draw in value-matched customers and strengthen their standing as a moral business. Revenue and employee morale can both increase with a positive reputation.