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It’s almost November…do you know where your pro bono hours are?
Those annual pro bono legal service reports will be showing up in your mailbox soon, and as December quickly approaches, now is a good time to evaluate the number of pro bono hours you’ve completed this year.
As a Maryland lawyer, you have a professional responsibility to render pro bono legal services — and according to the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct, you should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services a year.
With that being said, pro bono service isn’t a chore — it’s a mutually beneficial experience, especially for young lawyers. While clients receive free legal representation, the lawyer has an opportunity to gain valuable experience and work on important cases affecting the lives of real people.
If you’re one of many young lawyers searching for a job, pro bono service can help you add to your résumé and prevent your skills from atrophying. If you are lucky enough to have a job, pro bono service can give you the opportunity to step outside of your “regular” work and expand your skill set.
Most pro bono organizations have staff attorneys that you can contact with questions if you are outside of your realm. A pro bono case I took on this year landed me in criminal district court, a place I probably wouldn’t have otherwise seen as a bankruptcy and creditors’ rights associate.
In this economy, the demand for pro bono services is high and there are a lot of great organizations that connect attorneys to low-income people needing legal assistance. Check out Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland to get started. Also, be sure to check for other local pro bono opportunities through your local bar association.
As the holidays approach and your calendar fills, be sure to make some time for pro bono work — you won’t regret it.
