4 | September/October 2023 | BAEC Bulletin Letter from the President
When deciding whether something is worth doing, whether it has intrinsic value, we often ask whether it has withstood the test of time. For practicing lawyers, performing pro bono legal work has certainly withstood the test of time. Lawyers have been providing pro bono legal services well before our country was founded and it has deep roots here. For instance, John Adams, our second President, performed pro bono legal work for British soldiers who were prosecuted for what became known as the Boston Massacre. Performing pro bono legal services has not only survived but it has thrived. Indeed, as the decades have passed since the founding of this country, appreciation for pro bono legal services has only grown. The logic is obvious— if someone lacks means to hire a lawyer, that person may well be denied the full benefit of a proper and fair application of the law. The issue is access to justice, plain and simple. Regrettably and despite many successful and valuable programs, the need for pro bono legal services has grown much faster than the supply of those services. About ten years ago, the New York State Court of Appeals established a rule requiring those seeking admission to the New York State Bar to submit proof that they have performed fifty hours of pro bono legal services. Hopefully, this pre-admission experience of providing pro bono legal services will be rewarding to the applicants so much so that it encourages more pro bono work after admission and helps close the gap between the need for and supply of pro bono services. While pro bono service is not mandated for attorneys admitted to practice in New York State, the experience of providing pro bono legal services is invaluable. This is especially true for early career lawyers because pro bono work is often hands-on training that cannot be found in a textbook. Thus, it benefits not only the person in need of legal services who cannot afford a lawyer and the justice system that lawyers are bound to serve, but also the lawyer who is providing the pro bono services. The opportunity to learn and grow as a professional should in and of itself be sufficient motivation to provide pro bono legal services but it is difficult to imagine that a lawyer could render such services and help a fellow human being in need without feeling a deep sense of gratification for having done so. If you have not had the experience of handling a pro bono case, appreciating the value of providing pro bono legal services is perhaps best gained by the testimony of lawyers who have performed them. One source for such testimonials is the website maintained by the United States District Court for the Western District of New York where testimonials from attorneys who have provided pro bono legal services are published. These testimonials are compelling firsthand accounts from lawyers who have provided pro bono services. If you are intereted in pro bono work call Volunteer Lawyers Project at (716) 847-0662 Ext. 321. The term pro bono comes from the Latin phrase “pro bono publico” which means for the public good. And advancing public good is integral to our bar and our code of ethics. Keep up the good work. Pro Bono Service: Helping Yourself While Helping Others
TIMOTHY J. GRABER President Bar Association of Erie County
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