THE BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME FOR PRO BONO
October 27, 2023
Authored by: Eric W. Hughes
This article is made possible by the generous support from Taylor Tobey and Sarah Brodsky at 9Sail.
Eric W. Hughes
With this week being National Celebration of Pro Bono Week, there is no better time to dig into the numerous advantages of volunteering your time and talent (à la pro bono) with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ).
Engaging in pro bono offers many benefits that extend far beyond just lending a hand. For law students, legal professionals, and even those with a background unrelated to law, pro bono provides a unique avenue to gain valuable practical experience, enhance professional skills, and contribute to the greater good by ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. This article explores five compelling reasons why undertaking pro bono at VLJ is a “win-win” for anyone looking to enrich their legal career, connect with like-minded individuals, and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
From interesting and inspiring legal work that accommodates all schedules and backgrounds to comprehensive legal training, malpractice insurance, a Madden exemption, making new friends, to ensuring access to justice, pro bono does a world of good. No matter your background, time commitment, and interest, there is a pro bono opportunity right for you at VLJ.
The Importance of Pro Bono Work
According to the Legal Services Corporation's 2022 The Justice Gap report, nearly 3 in 4 U.S. households experiencing poverty had one or more civil legal issues in the past year. Worse, those households did not receive enough legal help for 92% of the problems that substantially impacted them. This unsettling reality is made worse by the fact that generally, there is no constitutional right to an attorney in civil (non-criminal) cases. That means families facing eviction, community members seeking second chances, and veterans trying to access the benefits they earned have no guaranteed legal advocate in their corner. As you engage in pro bono, you are meeting a critical need of millions of Americans, leading to improved outcomes not just for clients but for their households and generations that follow.
Five Benefits of Pro Bono
Harnessing the power of pro bono offers a multitude of benefits beyond altruism, whether you are looking to “test the waters” on a professional pivot in your legal career, provide legal advice in a new area of the law, or make meaningful use of your time and skills. Below, we'll explore five benefits that come with donating your time and talent to pro bono, from engaging in interesting and inspiring legal work to ensuring access to justice for those in need, all the while gaining valuable training, networking opportunities, and more.
1.) Interesting and Inspiring Legal Work That Fits with Every Schedule and Background
One of the most alluring aspects of volunteering is the opportunity for interesting and inspiring legal work that is not only fulfilling but also remarkably adaptable to diverse schedules and backgrounds. As VLJ routinely puts it, “YOU decide when, where, and how.” All of VLJ’s pro bono opportunities are virtual-friendly, and many of our pro bono programs offer short-duration, limited-scope opportunities. Whether you only have a few hours a month to volunteer or have all the time in the world, but live in California, don’t count yourself out when it comes to pro bono at VLJ.
2.) Comprehensive Training from Expert Legal Staff
Pro bono provides an excellent avenue for receiving training and mentorship from expert VLJ staff and seasoned volunteers. Indeed, many of VLJ’s pro bono programs are actively supported by law firms and in-house legal departments, ensuring volunteers have access to practitioners with years of practice under their belt. Like the diversity of VLJ’s volunteer opportunities, training and mentorship can span a wide range of legal topics, from the nuances of landlord-tenant law to the non-legal impact of bankruptcy, offering insights and expertise beyond traditional settings like the classroom or office-mandated “lunch and learn” seminars. How often have you said to yourself, “I didn’t learn that in law school!”?
For newer attorneys or those starting out in an area of the law, hands-on training and learning by doing can be transformative, bridging the gap between theory and real-world practice. This is especially true of training and experience that might not be readily available in one’s daily life. For newer firm associates, it can be challenging to gain litigation experience when clients want their matters handled by more senior attorneys, so providing pro bono legal services—especially for cases involving evictions and regular motion practice—is a fantastic way to not only learn about the practice of law but to do it. In short, volunteering becomes a jackpot prize with dividends for all, as it not only contributes to the public interest, it also offers a unique, seemingly personalized platform for continued learning and professional development.
3.) Malpractice Insurance and Madden Exemption
Another compelling benefit of engaging in pro bono is you won’t be doing it alone. Not only does VLJ remain committed to its volunteers and available for the duration of their volunteer work, VLJ also ensures its volunteers have peace of mind by providing primary malpractice insurance. For attorneys, malpractice insurance is an important safeguard, ensuring protection in case of unexpected legal liabilities.
Additionally, since VLJ is a court-approved pro bono provider, attorneys who volunteer 25 hours or more in the preceding year with VLJ can take advantage of the Madden exemption. Pursuing this exemption means YOU get to choose your pro bono assignments and not risk a court-assigned case for which you have no experience. When it comes to New Jersey’s Madden pro bono requirements, make it a three-for-one: volunteer 25 hours or more with one of VLJ’s many programs, do something you enjoy, and help a neighbor in need.
4.) Networking (Make New Friends!)
Pro bono presents a wonderful opportunity to expand your professional network and make new friends within the legal community. Whether you're a law student looking to connect with experienced lawyers or a seasoned legal professional eager to interact with peers from different firms or backgrounds, volunteering creates an environment where networking happens organically. By working with like-minded pro bono professionals while sharing a common goal of providing legal aid, you build lasting relationships outside the confines of a case, legal clinic, or workplace.
These connections can be invaluable in the long run: they can lead to mentorship, job opportunities, and even collaboration on future cases. Further, the diverse backgrounds of volunteers often mean you encounter individuals with unique perspectives and expertise, enriching your professional network with colleagues whom you may never have had an opportunity to meet otherwise. While the primary goal of pro bono is to serve the public interest, the added benefit of expanding your social and professional circle is a wonderful byproduct of volunteering.
And, while this is never a primary consideration, pro bono is an excellent brand-boosting opportunity for you and your law firm/company. In today’s legal market, corporate and firm clients give great weight to social responsibility, pro bono, and community development. In short, volunteering is a great way to look good while doing good.
5.) Ensure Access to Justice for People Experiencing Poverty
One of the most powerful benefits of pro bono is the opportunity to play a critical, life-changing role in ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty. For many neighbors and community members, affording an attorney is out of the question, leaving them to navigate alone a complex legal system designed by attorneys for attorneys. Worse, many of the legal issues community members face significantly impact their housing security, financial stability, and long-term wellbeing. By undertaking pro bono, you become a vital part of the solution, helping to bridge the access to justice gap and make civil legal aid accessible to those who need it the most.
Your pro bono efforts have the power to change lives, secure housing for families, protect the rights of individuals, and provide much-needed relief to those navigating difficult and overwhelming legal matters. Not only does this benefit VLJ’s clients directly, it also serves to uphold the principles of justice and equality. Volunteering allows you to be a champion of justice, making a tangible difference in the lives of those who might otherwise be left without a voice.
Looking to Volunteer Your Time to Help Your Community?
While this post only focused on five benefits of volunteering, there are countless others, such as improving one’s mental health—according to research by the Mayo Clinic, volunteering has been shown to reduce stress, increase positive feelings, and give a sense of appreciation and satisfaction. At VLJ, our volunteer opportunities are designed to be flexible, ensuring no amount of time is too small to make a difference. When you volunteer with VLJ, you are never alone, and whether you have decades of experience or this is Day One, we offer comprehensive training and mentorship from experts. Volunteering with VLJ also includes primary malpractice insurance and a Madden exemption, meaning you can focus on providing invaluable professional services to those who need them most while choosing the pro bono opportunity that is right for you.
Like standing in line at the grocery store or sitting thousands of miles in the air, volunteering gives you the chance to meet new people with new stories and experiences. Who knows, your new best friend may be waiting for you in one of VLJ’s upcoming legal clinics. And last, but certainly not least, volunteering with VLJ helps ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. When people have justice, they have hope, and when they have hope, they are able to fully engage in society, resulting in a robust democracy truly reflective of the values we hold near and dear.
With all these benefits, we won’t fault you if you think it takes massive effort to volunteer (spoiler alert: it doesn’t!). Far from it, at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, we make volunteering as easy as saying “Yes,” because when you say yes to taking a case or participating in a legal clinic, you can change a life (including your own).
To learn more and get started on your volunteer journey harnessing the power of pro bono, please visit https://www.vljnj.org/become-a-pro-bono-volunteer
