Spotlight on pro bono

As reported by ISBA Bar News editor Stephen Anderson in the May issue, the first ARDC report of pro bono legal services performed by Illinois lawyers resulted in more than two million hours of volunteer or pro bono services by 25,413 lawyers throughout the state.

Additionally, 12,501 attorneys reported contributions in cash to pro bono services totaling $17,456,053.

While these numbers are certainly worthy of high praise and should be recognized and commended by the bar, the report also indicated that 55,443 lawyers (which included 9,140 who are prohibited by employment classification) did not provide pro bono services during 2006.

Personally, I wish the ARDC questionnaire would include a question as to why those particular lawyers did not provide pro bono services. Likely, the answers to such a question would be varied.

Some possible responses may include financial hardship, time constraints, etc., but I suspect that at least one response would be in the nature of “nothing in my practice area” or simply “not interested.”

Indeed, many attorneys may believe that unless they practice or have experience in only certain areas of the law, their service would not be useful.

Put another way, these attorneys may be under the erroneous assumption that unless they practice family law or housing law, for example, they can't volunteer their time or services to pro bono activities. Many of these same lawyers may likewise have little desire to learn or gain experience in these areas of the law.

However, I would encourage these lawyers to check out www.illinoisprobono.org to see that pro bono opportunities abound in every type of legal matter and opportunity imaginable!

Most organizations that provide legal services to the low-income or vulnerable population in Illinois are partners with IllinoisProBono, part of Illinois Legal Aid Online.

Any lawyer can simply log onto the Web site for a list of current volunteer/pro bono opportunities throughout the state. In fact, you can even do a personalized volunteer opportunity search by type of law, organization or location.

While the list of all participating organizations is too extensive to duplicate here, it is varied, including such organizations as the Pro Bono Center for Disability and Elder law and the Midwest Tax Clinic.

Areas of practice include everything from bankruptcy, to immigration, to business law, to appellate work - you name it. And not every opportunity is direct client representation.

Some opportunities are for administrative support, accounting, fundraising, etc. In a nutshell, anyone can find something that appeals to his or her particular niche.

Who knows but that a particular person may find something interesting to volunteer for and decide to change a career path or otherwise enhance it.

Besides, even if you look at it from a purely economic standpoint (which isn't really the point of pro bono), you simply cannot beat the training and resources that these people at IllinoisProBono have accumulated to assist and encourage pro bono participation by private attorneys.

After a little training and relevant experience through pro bono work, you can then enhance your own practice and provide similar services to paying clients!

Of course, you will continue to provide pro bono services to the low-income people of Illinois You will have experienced the infinite gratification of assisting those who are less fortunate than you, and of being part of something bigger and more noble than just yourself in the honorable and privileged profession of the practice of law.

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