Giving Back to the Profession

After 32 years with Clifford Law Offices, I have been fortunate to have been mentored by a person who embraces giving back to the legal profession as well as to one’s community. Toward that end, Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at the firm, regularly encourages lawyers at the firm to join bar associations, to contribute articles to various publications with an eye toward educating even our competitors and to speak at legal seminars far and wide. Lawyers at the firm serve on community boards ranging from school boards to school sports teams, non-profit boards that help people who have been abused to the Wounded Warrior Project. 

Toward that end, during my tenure as president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild (2019-2020), the theme of my year was volunteering — giving back. Every month the Guild offered a volunteer opportunity for members at various community organizations that need help — baking with children at Misericordia, serving hot meals at food banks and sponsoring games for children at a holiday party in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood we’re just some of the events. It all comes down to lawyers showing by example how they can use their heart and soul to help those less fortunate. 

Certainly, it’s been said over and over how one feels better about themselves even trying to make others’ lives better, but it also needs to be said that it can improve the reputation of lawyers. The latest Gallup poll at this writing in honesty and ethics rankings of different professions found that only 19 percent of people responded high or very high about lawyers compared to the 30 percent that responded low or very low. Lawyers had significantly lower ratings than doctors, nurses, judges, and police officers. Giving back helps to break this stereotype. Judges fared better with 38 percent holding the bench in high esteem. https://news.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-professions.aspx.

It’s not difficult to find places where your services might be needed but it appears to be most effective when you do something that you enjoy doing — helping the elderly, planting a tree, participating in a charity run, volunteering at an animal shelter or legal clinic, judging student mock trials, mentoring students — from grammar school through law school such as the Diversity Scholarship Foundation in Chicago sponsors — are just the tip of the iceberg. By mentoring and sharing knowledge and experiences with young lawyers, seasoned practitioners can help shape the next generation of legal professionals. This mentorship fosters a sense of professional responsibility, ethics, and accountability, ensuring that lawyers uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

Lawyers who give back to the profession through teaching or writing legal articles contribute to legal scholarship, enriching the legal discourse and promoting intellectual growth within the legal community. I’m again impressed by Clifford Law Offices that offers free ethics credits across five states every February with some 5,000 registrants, a free wellness credit in June as well as sponsoring the 30th year of the Clifford Tort Symposium that offers two days of free CLE on a timely topic in the civil justice arena and how it impacts the public, providing a vehicle in an intellectually rigorous fashion with two dozen academics from around the country.  

Lawyers giving back to the community through pro bono work play a vital role in promoting equal access to justice. Not everyone can afford legal representation, and this often leads to marginalized individuals being denied their rights. By providing free legal services to those in need, lawyers can bridge this justice gap. Pro bono work can encompass a wide range of legal services, such as representing indigent clients, advocating for policy reforms, or providing legal advice to nonprofit organizations. Participating in initiatives such as legal clinics, community legal education programs or volunteering in local organizations can foster a positive image of the legal profession. By interacting with community members, lawyers can gain a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by different groups and work towards addressing them effectively. This engagement builds bridges, breaks down stereotypes and promotes a sense of shared responsibility, ultimately leading to a stronger and more cohesive society. Lawyers giving back in this way also helps build trust and strengthen the relationship between the legal profession and society. Lawyers are often seen as the gatekeepers of justice, and their involvement in community service activities can demonstrate their commitment to public service. The ISBA sponsors this type of service on Law Day (May 1) every year. It’s amazing the number of calls received from throughout the state. Volunteers are always needed. 

Lawyers giving back to the profession and the community can also benefit their personal and professional growth. Engaging in pro bono work or mentoring can provide lawyers with valuable experiences and exposure to different legal issues. This exposure can broaden their perspectives, enhance their problem-solving skills and enable them to become more empathetic and compassionate professionals, not to mention strengthen their networks, expand their client bases, and gain recognition and respect within the legal community.  Some lawyers who strike out on their own have been known to start this way — developing a base in their hometown and the word of their legal expertise grows from there. 

Lawyers have a significant role to play in society and giving back to the profession and the community is of utmost importance. The impact of lawyers giving back goes beyond individual cases or clients; it shapes the legal profession, strengthens communities, and helps create a more just and equitable society. Pro bono Celebration Week is just around the corner. As they say, when you want something done, give it to a busy person. That busy person this year could be you. https://www.isba.org/probono.