NCJ Number
48576
Journal
Trial Volume: 13 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1977) Pages: 43-46
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF INVOLVING LAWYERS IN PRO BONO WORK IS EXPLORED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE STATE OF PRO BONO LEGAL ACTIVITY ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
IT IS MAINTAINED THAT DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF SOME CORPORATE LAW FIRMS AND BIG CITY BAR ASSOCIATIONS TO INSTITUTIONALIZE PRO BONO ACTIVITY, THE TALENTS OF PRIVATE LAWYERS ARE STILL A VASTLY UNDERUTILIZED RESOURCE. OUT OF 2,300 RESPONSES TO A MAILING OF 15,000 QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO LAWYERS IN THE WASHINGTON, (D.C.) AREA, 17 PERCENT OF ALL SOLE PRACTITIONERS REPORTED SPENDING MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF THEIR TIME ON PRO BONO WORK, WHILE ONLY 5 PERCENT IN MODERATELY-SIZED FIRMS, AND 4 PERCENT IN LARGE FIRMS REPORTED A COMPARABLE COMMITMENT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE ACTIVIST ATMOSPHERE OF THE 1960'S, WHICH SPURRED INCOMING LAW ASSOCIATES TO BECOME INVOLVED IN PRO BONO ACTIVITY, HAS WANED IN THE 1970'S, AND CONCERN FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND INCOME IS DOMINATING THE BEHAVIOR OF MOST LAWYERS. FURTHER, IT IS BELIEVED THAT LAWYERS SPECIALIZING IN CORPORATE AND BUSINESS LAW PRATICE ARE ILL-EQUIPPED IN BOTH KNOWLEDGE AND MOTIVATION TO DEAL WITH THE LEGAL PROBLEMS OF THE POOR. IT IS URGED THAT CITIZENS AND CONCERNED ATTORNEYS EXERT PRESSURE ON BAR ASSOCIATIONS TO ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRO BONO WORK: (1) SERVE AN INVESTIGATIVE AND EDUCATIVE FUNCTION BY PINPOINTING SPECIFIC LEGAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY'S POOR; (2) RUN PROGRAMS IN THEIR CITY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS EDUCATING POOR PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS; (3) CHANNEL BAR RESOURCES AND MEMBERSHIP BY EXPANDING THE CONCEPT OF A BAR-SPONSORED PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM, EITHER ON A PURE STAFF ATTORNEY MODEL OR THROUGH A WELL-SUPERVISED REFERRAL SYSTEM; ENGAGE IN NONLITIGATION PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECTS TO CORRECT INEQUITIES AND INEFFICIENCIES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE LOWER COURTS; AND (4) MANDATE CONTRIBUTIONS, IN TIME OR MONEY, BY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS TO A PRO BONO EFFORT. (RCB)