I’ve always loved volunteering. Its something I got involved in at a young age, between volunteering for animal shelters, habitat for humanity, and homeless shelters. In undergrad I was a part of a leadership program called “The Presidents Leadership Program” (not as cool as it sounds), where volunteering 100 hours during your four years was mandatory. I went for service distinction and graduated early, doing 140 hours in three years. In law school, I was so happy to see volunteering was mandatory, especially after seeing the statistics of the wide disparities between those who need legal aid and those able to provide legal aid. I was sure I was going to go into legal aid myself, although my path seems to be going in a different direction, I want to make sure volunteering is still a priority for me when I get into the real world of practice. I’ve done about 106 hours during my time at Stetson Law, but aiming to finish with 120 to make the Blues Award. A majority of my legal volunteering has been with Bay Area Legal Services, doing family forms for those who need the service at the Thirteenth Circuit.
When I came in, I knew nothing about family law, but learned a whole lot just filling out custody forms, family planning, divorce, alimony matters, etc. I feel like I've learned more doing those clinics than I had in my first year of law school. Plus, you get interaction with real live human beings with real life legal problems (of those which are usually very stressful and highly emotional). People come in with their toddlers, with their lunch, with a bag of various legal documents all mixed up, and with a problem to be solved. I love doing family forms because by the time the clients leave (although I know I’m not acting as an attorney but I secretly feel like one), they feel a little lighter, with a bit more hope, and one less thing to worry about. And the service is completely free.
I believe volunteering like this benefits three people, the client, the agency you volunteer for, and yourself as a future lawyer (and human being, because it feels nice to help). It bothers me when people complain about the requirement because there is so much to gain from volunteering, and that gain is not something to be underestimated. It also keeps us connected to the real world, which is hard when you are a law student and your face is constantly buried in a textbook. There are so many people who need help, and I believe every single one of them deserves help, whether they have the funds to pay or not. If every single lawyer and law student came out of their little worlds and gave a few hours a week to probono, I truly believe the world would be a better place. Access to legal services should not be limited by money, resources, or knowledge.
I honestly believe it is our civic duty as law students and lawyers to give our time freely to do pro bono, even if that isn't our main job. I highly recommend, if you haven't gotten out there and done your hours yet (or have and want to do more!) try contacting Bay Area Legal Services and doing the family forms clinic. They often have to cancel clinics because there aren't enough law students signed up (and they only need four to eight per clinic). Trust me, you will leave feeling more inspired, fulfilled, and ready to be the best lawyer you can be!
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI agree that pro bono service is important in law school. Like you, I learned a lot from my legal pro bono experience. I volunteered with a different legal aid program assisting with family forms and general family law issues. Observing the attorneys explain Florida law taught me family and housing law and how to interact with clients, an experience I did not get in my classes.
I think that requiring 60 hours of pro bono service to graduate is too much, however. It was difficult balancing studying with volunteering, and I sometimes had to neglect my schoolwork so I could volunteer. But other than this one complaint, I think requiring us to volunteer is beneficial.
Intentional pro bono work is wonderful. Just keep in mind you have to employ solid business practices to keep your firm solvent and support yourself and your family in order to do pro bono work.
ReplyDeleteThe worst kind of pro bono in the unintentional type. That is where a supposedly paying client fails to pay his/her bill for your services. That type of pro bono must be avoided at all costs. An important skill is knowing when a client is becoming a financial problem for your law practice and cutting that client loose before they put a dent in your bottom line.
Intentional pro bono is a great way to grow as a lawyer and person. About 75% of the cases I've argued in my state supreme court (MI) have been pro bono cases. I read all the family law decisions from the intermediate appellate court and sometimes I will find one that I think was so wrongly decided that I offer my services to the losing party to take the case to the supreme court pro bono. The famous (a few decades ago) Baby Jessica child custody case (Google it) was one of my early pro bono cases in the Michigan Supreme Court.
Hi, Jess,
ReplyDeleteI love this! I completely agree that as law students we are in a unique position to help the community. I was a guardian ad litem for much of law school, and that was some of the most rewarding work I have ever done.