A lawyer’s job requires them to have a specific skill set that provides benefits beyond the courtroom. Such skilled legal services are often expensive and beyond the reach of many potential clients. When a lawyer provides their services without charge, this is called Pro Bono. Pro Bono volunteer work is especially encouraged for low-income clients and legal aid nonprofits, as it increases equity in the justice system.
Lone Star Legal Aid and Texas Disaster Legal Help recruit Pro Bono volunteers. Here are a few reasons why lawyers do Pro Bono work.
They enjoy helping people and giving back to their community.
Many people who become lawyers are driven by a desire to help people in their community and give back in some way. Just like doctors and police officers, they want to make a difference. Pro Bono legal services provide benefits to the community that otherwise would not be available. Legal assistance is often the only lifeline available to people facing life-altering consequences, such as losing their home, employment, or custody of their children.
They are fulfilling their responsibility to the American Bar Association.
Every practicing attorney must comply with a set of model ethical codes established by the American Bar Association (ABA). To affirm their commitment to equal justice, lawyers must provide at least 50 hours of their services for free every year.
They want to increase equal access to justice.
According to a 2022 report by Legal Services Corporation, “about 50 million Americans have household incomes below 125% of poverty, including more than 15 million children.” Studies show there is 1 attorney for every 380 Texans, but only 1 attorney for every 98,000 Texans living in poverty.
They want to learn new skills or practice areas.
There are many law types. While lawyers can practice in any area, many will choose to focus on one type of law as their specialty. Therefore, they may miss opportunities to practice in other areas of law. Pro bono volunteering allows lawyers to branch out and expand their experience.
They want to build their professional network.
In the legal industry, it is important to build professional relationships with other lawyers. They may have a client that they are unable to help, but someone in their network would be a perfect fit. They may have a question about a certain law, legal process, or law type that someone in their network could answer. Just as pro bono volunteer work helps communities, lawyers have a community of their own.
If you are interested in volunteering with Lone Star Legal Aid, learn more here.
If you are interested in volunteering with Texas Disaster Legal Help, learn more here.
If you or someone you know needs free legal assistance, call 1-800-733-8394 or apply online.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income and underserved populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. LSLA focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety, stability, health, and wellbeing; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those with disabilities, the aging, survivors of crime and disasters, the unemployed and underemployed, the unhoused, those with limited English language skills, and the LGBTQIA+ community. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
