Pro bono work is extremely satisfying work, particularly within the context of a large law firm. Within law firms, it builds morale and teamwork, providing new opportunities and challenges to lawyers at all levels. It enhances the reputation of the firm, develops strong public partnerships and adds value to the firm’s corporate social responsibility policy.
According to the paper "The pro bono work of solicitors 2007" produced by The Law Society, 65% of private practice solicitors had conducted pro bono work at some point during their legal career 51% had done so within the past twelve months and, on average, spent 43 hours on pro bono clients.
There are many reasons why a law school and a law student, should become involved in pro bono.
Personal Benefits:
Involvement can provide opportunities for individuals to learn legal skills, explore alternative career options, develop professional contacts and become involved in their communities. Such programmes provide many participants a direct knowledge of how the system functions, or fails to function.
They also have an independent educational value. Through the provision of these programmes, students gain invaluable experience in: communicating with clients, developing their ability to recognise legal issues, separating legitimate legal claims from non-meritorious claims, explaining the practical implications of pursuing a course of action and guiding clients through unfamiliar legal processes.
Law School Benefits:
The legal process is for the benefit of all, and access to the legal system should not depend on financial resources. With pro bono, we have a unique opportunity to do what we can to help ensure this is. For this reason, efforts to foster broader cultures of commitment must begin in our law schools. Pro bono plays a substantial role in ensuring these efforts continue.
With this in mind, the rewards of pro bono are limitless when we glance at the broader
ramifications of our efforts. Pro bono programmes within law schools provide students with positive practical experiences that will encourage their future involvement as practitioners in pro bono services. Moreover, they offer students a range of practical benefits.
Fostering a culture of commitment within our law schools will, with each new generation of
lawyers entering the legal profession, perpetuate the ethos of access to justice.
Benefits to Others:
Whether you are an individual student or a law school, getting involved in pro bono within your local community brings with it countless benefits to those you are assisting. The additional support you can offer community groups, charities and individuals can often be the thing that makes the difference for them. Without your input, they may not receive any additional support. Helping a client or organisation through a complicated legal process is one of the most rewarding experiences a future lawyer can be involved in.