We all know that lawyers have a professional responsibility, if not a professional or personal interest, to provide pro bono legal services. However, for some in-house counsel — those in smaller legal departments or remote offices — finding pro bono opportunities may be a challenge.
Corporate Pro Bono (ACC’s pro bono arm) has been assisting legal departments and ACC Chapters develop pro bono opportunities and initiatives for more than a decade, driving a dramatic increase in the participation of in-house counsel in pro bono. Smaller law departments and remote offices looking to engage in pro bono have the following options:
- Desktop Pro Bono Opportunities. Desktop pro bono, sometimes referred to as virtual or remote, is exactly what it sounds like — pro bono projects that can be completed from a volunteer’s desk or office. This can be particularly useful for attorneys located in remote areas where pro bono opportunities are not readily available, and where traveling to meet with pro bono clients would be impractical. Pro bono opportunities that may be conducted from your desk include:
- administrative hearings by conference call;
- staffing legal hotlines;
- taking calls forwarded from intake centers;
- examining files and documents;
- researching legal matters; or
- drafting documents.
- Collaboration. There is no reason to go at it alone. Other legal departments in the area with established pro bono programs can provide resources and guidance for departments looking to become more involved. Smaller offices can develop a network of companies that includes both larger and smaller departments to provide collaborative support on projects.
- Organized Events. Research legal aid organizations that organize regular pro bono clinics or volunteer opportunities. Participate in the programs of local ACC chapters or other bar associations. In either case, partake in scheduled pro bono activities with other lawyers around the region.
Get involved, contribute to your community and honor your responsibility.
And, for larger legal departments eager to engage their colleagues in smaller offices, we recommend you encourage and empower those colleagues to create or modify their own pro bono program to reflect the interests and skills of their legal staff. If you allow attorneys to establish pro bono programs that respond to local issues, they are more likely to get involved.