The Center for Pro Bono Exchange has Moved!

The ABA Center for Pro Bono Exchange has a new location! Continue following us here:
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/center-pro-bono/publications/pro-bono-exchange/

Pro Se May Be a Solution, But it’s Also a Symptom: A Response to The Atlantic’s “The DIY Divorce”

By: Michael G. Bergmann, Executive Director, Public Interest Law Initiative

*Originally posted on the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) website, http://pili.org/pro-bono/diy-divorce-response

A contributing writer for The Atlantic recently wrote an article about how she represented herself in her divorce. PILI’s Executive Director, Michael G. Bergmann, wrote the following response about why that is not always the answer when people cannot afford legal representation.

Community Profile: Jack Fan, Texas Free Legal Answers Volunteer Attorney

In this latest Community Profile,

Y. Jack Fan, Attorney at Fan Law Office and Texas Free Legal Answers Volunteer

we are highlighting the amazing volunteer work of Jack Fan, a volunteer with Texas Free Legal Answers. Jack is a solo practitioner in Plano, Texas, where he practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, and family law.  Jack began volunteering with Texas Free Legal Answers in June 2017. Texas Free Legal Answers is part of the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers online legal advice clinic. Qualified users log on and post their civil legal questions. Then, volunteer attorneys like Jack provide legal assistance and advice by answering those questions. Since Jack began volunteering with the site in June 2017, he has taken over 1000 questions on Texas Free Legal Answers! We caught up with Jack to learn more about his pro bono work with Texas Free Legal Answers.

Five Pro Bono Projects You Can Do Without Leaving Your House

“Pro bono work is good for your community and your career, but it can be hard to find time to make a meaningful commitment, especially when you work long hours or have kids at home. Luckily, as improved online access has expanded work from home opportunities, it has become possible to volunteer remotely as well. If one of of your resolutions this year was to give back and get involved, check out these five great remote volunteer opportunities.”

Read more.

 

AALS Releases Law Student Pro Bono Hours Survey

The American Association of Law Schools (AALS) recently released their report on the number of hours law schools contribute to pro bono and legal services. Read their exciting report on the great work being done by America’s law students to support pro bono and legal services here: https://www.aals.org/aals-newsroom/aals-2018-law-student-pro-bono-hours-survey/

“A Greater Fool” Pro Bono Experiences, Opportunities, Vision

By: George “Buck” Lewis, Chair, ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service

Published in the Tennessee Bar Association Journal, Vol 55, No. 1, 12/30/18. View at https://www.tba.org/journal/a-greater-fool

In the 2012 HBO series The Newsroom, we begin to get to know the main character, Will McAvoy, played by Jeff Daniels, when we see him on a panel discussion on a college campus. In the first episode, a young woman from the business school asks the panel why America is the greatest country on earth? The other panelists say freedom, diversity and opportunity. After a pregnant pause, Will says he doesn’t believe America is the greatest country on earth. He embarks upon an abusive rant which cites illiteracy, low rankings for math and science, falling life expectancy, rising infant mortality, and incarceration per capita, to name a few. The rant lands Will in a good deal of trouble with the public and with his cable news network where he anchors the evening news.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS (NFPA) CELEBRATES PRO BONO AT 2018 ANNUAL CONVENTION

By: Christine Flynn

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) Annual Convention & Policy Meeting was hosted by the Washington State Paralegal Association (WSPA) from October 25-28, 2018 at the Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel & Conference Center.  The annual convention was attended by delegates of Regions I, II, III, IV and V.

The NFPA Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Guidelines provide that each paralegal should aspire to contribute 24 hours of community service, in addition to 24 hours to pro bono service annually.  During the year, paralegals voluntarily report hours via the NFPA Pro Bono/Community Service Hours Reporting Forms to record and report the number of hours contributed to local groups, pro bono agencies, events, associations and organizations.  Local associations may then report these hours to the state and local bar associations, highlighting the valuable contributions paralegals make to the delivery of pro bono legal services and to making access to justice a reality.  This year, NFPA honored over 30 paralegals from local associations throughout the United States for meeting and/or exceeding the recommended aspirations for completion of pro bono/community service hours. These paralegals received certificates from NFPA.

Following recognition and the presentation of certificates, NFPA also presented the 2018 Association Pro Bono Award to the Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA).  Terri Yang is the Pro Bono Chair at MPA.  This award recognizes an NFPA member association that has exhibited outstanding dedication and service in the area of pro bono services.  For additional information on the contributions of MPA to pro bono please visit https://www.mnparalegals.org/Pro-Bono.

Terri Yang, Pro Bono Chair of MPA, with the 2018 NFPA Pro Bono Award

MPA received a commemorative plaque.

OMG, can we please stop saying “there’s only so much funding to go around”?!

OMG, can we please stop saying “there’s only so much funding to go around”?!

Source: OMG, can we please stop saying “there’s only so much funding to go around”?!

From the Chair: Thanksgiving in America

By: Buck Lewis, Chair, ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  In Tallahassee, a pro bono hero, we’ll call him Frank, watches the Macy’s parade with his fiancée and reflects upon the devastation of Hurricane Michael.  Like Hannah in Texas, he is exhausted but gratified by the outpouring of support from Florida’s lawyers.  He knows Florida will be hit again and again, but the lessons learned will help them be ready.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  In Austin, Texas, a mother of twins, we’ll call her Hannah, juggles her children’s homework while reviewing last year’s questions and answers asked on ABA Free Legal Answers in wake of Hurricane Harvey.  She is thankful that the Texas Supreme Court allowed licensed lawyers from all over the country to perform pro bono work in Texas and marvels at the outpouring of support from lawyers through the United States.  As she finishes her status report to the state bar, she is grateful that Austin and her family in Houston were spared.  She wonders how the thousands of clients who received pro bono advice in Texas have fared since then.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A distinguished lawyer in Boston, we’ll call her Mary, works on one last project before the family lunch, an amicus brief, the purpose of which is to help to persuade an appellate court to protect unaccompanied minor children who have come to our country.  She completes her final draft.  She gathers up the brief, reflecting on her nieces and nephews and how blessed they are to be born in America and how blessed she is to see them this Thanksgiving.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A strong Legal Services Corporation (LSC) leader, we’ll call him Jim, enjoys an early college football game on television with his family.  This Thanksgiving morning is one of the few mornings that are restful for Jim.  He is thankful that LSC has avoided thus far existential cuts in funding, but he reminds himself that he can never, never, never let up.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A managing partner, we’ll call her Linda, is at her Atlanta office late into the evening working on programs to train her young lawyers and to boost morale with her staff. She has spent hundreds of nights the last three years in hotels around the world.  She is thankful to be back home with her devoted husband, but she is also grateful that her soul has been enriched by the thousands of military service personnel and veterans she has met and helped over the past few years.  She wishes they all could be with their families this Thanksgiving.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A pro bono volunteer from Nashville, we’ll call her Samantha, has the luxury of going to a movie with her dear husband.  She reflects proudly on her work helping to develop ABAFreeLegalAnswers.org.  She is also encouraged by a recent decision from the U.S. District Court in Nashville making it more difficult for states to deny drivers licenses to the poor just because they can’t pay fines and fees.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A pro bono champion in California, we’ll call her Julia, helps with preparations for a neighborhood lunch.  She is still worried about the drought and wildfire survivors in her state.  But she knows that California’s lawyers will rise to the occasion just as they always have before, to help those who have lost so much.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A loyal pro bono warrior and member of the ABA staff, we’ll call her Cheryl, sighs as she reflects on the pace of the last year.  The year has not been an easy one — budget cuts, hurricanes, and an ongoing immigration crisis.  But the more she reflects, the more she realizes how much good she and her team members have accomplished in the past year.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  The manager of a small firm in Pittsburgh, we’ll call her Debbie, is in her office this Thanksgiving morning taking care of pro bono work that she could not get done earlier in the week because she was in hearings.  She marvels at the amount of pro bono time put in by her lawyers and her staff, especially working on cases to ensure that Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries have access to the care they need.  It’s tough to juggle all her responsibilities, but she knows that the pro bono work that she and her employees do makes their own problems seem small and creates a wonderful culture of mutual respect within her small firm

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A successful and hardworking bar leader, we’ll call her Hilarie, drives to the home of a friend to bring her Thanksgiving brunch.  As she drives through her beloved south Florida neighborhoods, she is mindful that there are homeless Americans from Miami to Juneau and from Honolulu to Maine who survive day to day on the streets and in homeless shelters.  She is grateful for the many blessings the Lord has bestowed upon her and her family and quietly prays a prayer renewing her commitment to bring better living conditions to her fellow Americans without a real home.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A weary road warrior, we’ll call him Bob, finally gets to spend a weekend in his beloved Montana.  Long a fighter against homelessness and poverty as well, he gives thanks for all that is being done to provide homes to the homeless, and lawyers to those whose rights depend upon them.

It’s Thanksgiving in America.  A lucky husband, we’ll call him Buck, delights in the Christmas songs of his wife and nieces.  He gives thanks for the countless unselfish acts of lawyers across America who have given of their time and their expertise to our brothers and sisters.  They have cemented a stunning legacy for our profession, never to be forgotten.

You Can Be a Superhero

Check out the August 2018 President’s Message from Kimberly Hays of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

August 2018 President’s Message