Choosing between a career doing well (as in a big paycheck and prestige) or doing good (as in never paying off your student debt) can be difficult. When asked why they want to be a lawyer, many will say because they want to help people. There is no shortage of worthwhile cases to get involved in, from asylum and immigration to housing issues to death row petitions-all issues where you can have a profound impact on another person’s life, and maybe just bring a spark back into your own life as well. Working on a case that is life-changing to your pro bono client and experiencing the desired outcome can have a profound effect on everyone involved. Too often in BigLaw, lawyers don’t necessarily see the benefits of their hard work outside of a paycheck or a compliment from a senior member of the team. A pro bono case often puts you one-on-one with a client and allows you to put a face to the task. Breaking away from the drudgery of your daily grind to assist on a pro bono matter can reinvigorate your enthusiasm for the law and remind you why you became a lawyer in the first place. If you have been practicing law for a while or are stuck in a legal area that you do not enjoy (yes, it happens), take on some pro bono work. Gaining real, hands-on experience is also a great resume booster. Engaging in different practice areas may expose you to work you would not have otherwise been inclined to do (and vice versa). Many schools allow students to perform pro bono in areas from tax to contracts to criminal law to domestic law, just to name a few. Pro bono work can also let you narrow down the type of work you want to do once you become a lawyer. You will interact with real clients facing real needs which allows you to finally put into practice all that classroom knowledge. If you are in law school, pro bono cases are a great break from the theoretical and textbook nature of the classroom. Showing those above you the valuable work you can provide and the skills you’ve gained is great exposure to help your career advancement. Pro bono matters can also put you in direct contact with partners and senior associates who oversee those case assignments. Gaining that exposure early and building your credentials prepares you for when your career advances and the day-to-day work demands those skills. Pro bono work often puts you in control of a matter, whether it be direct client interaction, writing briefs, taking depositions, or arguing in court. Taking on a pro bono matter allows you to practice and develop the skills that you may not otherwise get early on in your career. If you are a newer lawyer, your days can be spent slogging through document review and other low-level work-probably not what you imagined your days would be like when you were daydreaming about becoming a lawyer. If pro bono hasn’t been top of mind for you in your legal career thus far, here are some reasons why you should consider taking on pro bono work. The rule also suggests pro bono can be done in the furtherance of improving the law, the legal system, or the profession. The American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct state that every lawyer has an obligation to perform 50 hours of pro bono work at low or no cost to varied individuals or groups. Pro bono is either required or strongly encouraged in the legal community for all lawyers and is not limited to those who chose public service as a career. Pro bono publico (“for the public good”), or pro bono work, is the offering of free or low-cost services to those who cannot afford them.
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