Verew
Joined: 21 Apr 2015
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:53 am Post subject: Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reason |
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When the phrase "pro bono" is put into the Westlaw search engine under Law Review Journals, you are prompted to select the following "related terms:" Benevolence, Charity, Gift, Gratuity, Largess and Philanthropy. Microsoft's Encarta Dictionary defines "pro bono" as "done or undertaken for the public good without any payment or compensation." In the legal profession, "pro bono" is typically credited to the provider of services by a third party like a state bar agency. However no credit is given for services provided without third party assignment. Of course the obvious problem of manipulating free services "gratuitously" to those who do not need it, verses indigent parties, is real; so may be the incentive to voluntarily decline helping someone without resources if it is not credited as "pro bono." The point is that doing the right thing for the right reason is always a good thing.
Some attorneys are very clash of clans hack tool and specific areas, others practice in a more general way. It may not be particularly helpful or wise for a real estate attorney to take on a large medical malpractice trial; and visa versa. It may not be wise for a lawyer with virtually no experience in tax law to represent a client in an IRS hearing. The examples here are many; but the point is made.
On the other hand, a tax lawyer would be very useful in doing free legal work for an individual with IRS problems who can not afford legal services. A criminal defense lawyer may be able to provide competent representation for an accused person without resources. A lawyer with specific training and experience in particular medical areas could readily provide representation to a victim of injury when compensation is unavailable. In fact this area is fertile for gratuitous service.
I have a personal injury litigation practice. I try to keep the majority of my effort in the areas of brain injury. I have spoken publicly about the 3 things all brain injury cases require: liability, Injury and coverage - an acronym I created "LIC"). Typically I do not get involved in handling cases where commercial insurance coverage is not available. It is simply too expensive to properly prepare a brain injury trial and the value of the losses frequently exceed individual auto policy limits. That said, I feel it incumbent on my practice to help severely injured people and their families whose cases lack insurance funds, when, for instance, that person is comatose in the Emergency Room and physicians simply do not know what to tell the family. I will sit at the hospital and wait with these people for a good sign. I will ask the physicians if the coma will result in permanent damage (which I know it will) and then I prepare the family for the reality of the impending death or, sometimes worse, so called recovery. |
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