Pro Bono program continues to bring about exciting new changes
By Lorrie K. Albert
For The Lawyers Journal
Nov. 9, 2007—One of my main goals when I initially took the position as Pro Bono Coordinator was to put together a solid program that would continue to grow well into the future. As I reflect upon the progress the bar has made with its pro bono efforts over the past few years, I think it is fair to say that the Pro Bono Center has developed a strong support system for its volunteers as well as its legal services association members and projects.
The Allegheny County Bar Foundation’s efforts to actively increase pro bono services began in Feb. 2005, when I commenced the task of developing a pro bono program that would not only help meet the legal needs of the poor, but attract the attention of both attorneys and paralegals so that they would knock down our door just to get an opportunity to volunteer.
We evaluated the needs of Allegheny County and began to develop new programs and projects to increase our ability to provide volunteer opportunities for lawyers. And, when I say we, (as my husband always accuses me of speaking French when really he is the one doing all the work), I mean that I did not have to do any of this alone. I have had strong advocates of pro bono to guide me. Barbara Kern, from Neighborhood Legal Services Association, has been at my side, sharing her knowledge of the needs of the community, as well as offering advice and steering me in the right direction.
Jeffrey Heeter, from ALCOA, as well as the extremely dedicated members of the Pro Bono Partnership’s administrative board, are always forging ahead with new ideas to bring about new initiatives called signature projects that enable firms, corporate legal departments, and legal associations to come together to provide particular legal services to the community.
This list is far from complete, but I would be remiss to fail to mention the support of Ron Crouch, of McGuire Woods (who planted the seed that turned into the pro bono coordinator position and created the idea of “road shows” which enable us to present pro bono opportunities at firm and corporate meetings) and the Public Service Committee which continues to help and support the program by incubating new pro bono ideas and helping to encourage firms and attorneys to volunteer, as well as being responsible for the selection and recognition of outstanding pro bono volunteers.
Here are just some of the milestones we have been able to accomplish:
In 2005, the Pro Bono Center developed new initiatives such as the Immigration Asylum Project and YWCA’s 100 Lawyers/One Case Each Limited Assets Divorce Project, and held two KDKA Military & Veterans Legal Call-in Day programs. The center created and implemented an innovative emergency legal assistance program for Hurricane Katrina evacuees, and we were invited to teach the program at the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Annual Meeting. The development of the Pro Bono Center e-newsletter and the addition of the center to the foundation’s website increased the visibility of pro bono in Allegheny County.
In 2006, the center worked in conjunction with the Public Service Committee to create the ACBA Disaster Manual for Volunteer Attorneys which makes it possible to launch a volunteer legal program in the event of a disaster. We worked with the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership to create a number of new initiatives and launched the Pro Bono Custody Conciliation Project in November.
The center also partnered with Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan to successfully revive the Federal Court Prisoners Civil Rights Project. The Education Law Center joined the Pro Bono Center, which will add new volunteer opportunities for lawyers. We also continued to assist in planning and teaching seminars that offered free CLE credit to pro bono volunteers.
Finally, in 2007, our Custody Conciliation Pro Bono Project received national attention when we were invited to teach our model at the National Equal Justice Conference in Denver, Co. We added another new member to the Pro Bono Center, Christian Legal Aid of Pittsburgh, which will provide volunteers with even more opportunities from which to choose a pro bono program that fits their interests.
We developed more signature projects in conjunction with the Pro Bono Partnership, law firms, corporate legal departments, and associations such as the Wills Project, the Custody Guardian Project, and the Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Pro Bono Project.
We will hold our very first pro bono fundraiser, Pro Bono Rocks, on Nov. 18, 2007 at the Hard Rock Café at Station Square.
As most of you know by now, I have taken the position as the new director of the foundation. However, I promise to continue the vision and development of the pro bono program in a supervisory role. I hope by the time this is published, the new pro bono coordinator will already be in the trenches and beginning to make his/her own mark on the program.
In 2008, we will have the opportunity to develop a number of new projects that are on the drawing board. It continues to be a very exciting time for pro bono thanks to the commitment and effort of the bar members who are helping to meet the legal needs of Allegheny County residents who, but for a volunteer, would not have a skilled advocate to help them with their legal affairs.