New York Lawyer
May 11, 2006

Q:
I am a 2L about to start my summer firm job. They have asked all the summer associates ahead of time whether we would like to do a pro bono case.

There are pros and cons to doing pro bono in the summer. First, it is a good way to get in-court experience, manage one's own case, work directly under a partner, learn a new area of law, and show one's dedication to public service and making the world a better place through law. However, it also takes lots of time and energy away from trying different areas of law at the firm in the few weeks that we have to find what area of law we would like to come back and do full-time after the third year. Last summer I worked at a firm for eight weeks, I declined to do pro bono, and I still didn't have enough time to work on a project in corporate law -- a practice area I thought might be for me. Meanwhile other summer associates who had taken on pro bono found it always detracting from their other work product, and were often frustrated because they weren't ready for the demands a pro bono case placed upon them. Many ended up leaving the case behind for an associate when they finished their summer.

I haven't yet decided which practice area is for me though I doubt it will be litigation, and this summer I want as much time as possible to try different areas within corporate and choose one -- as well as learn about the area and work for attorneys in that area. I don't see the in-court experience as very helpful to making my practice area choice, and while I'd love to meet as many partners as possible, forming a close relationship working for a litigation partner is probably not as important as doing good work for partners I may work for in the future in corporate.

But I am worried that if I decline the pro bono, I will be seen as non-public-service-oriented, or that I am not a team player (if it turns out all the other summer associate do a project.) I already know the topic of the pro bono case is immigration, which is interesting but not an area in which I have any experience or am likely to incorporate into my transactionally-related work.

I see my choices as 1) accepting a pro bono case, 2) declining a pro bono case, or 3) declining the case while explaining that I would love to do this when I come back to work as an associate but I really need as much time as possible this summer to work in different areas and find the right one for me.

If you see any other options or have advice, I would be most grateful.

Best,
So Many Worthwhile Opportunities, So Little Time

Submit Your Question

Find More Answers

A:

Whew! If one of the main qualities for being a good lawyer is thorough analysis, you're doing pretty well.

However, there are a few other points to think about when making this decision:

You have your whole life ahead of you. It is not absolutely vital that you figure out this summer what practice area you want to concentrate in. Moreover, if you enter practice and determine you've made the wrong decision, you can change your mind. I don't think you should put pressure on yourself to come to an ironclad decision on this point this summer, and to feel that if you don't, you have somehow failed.

You need to do some sleuthing. Find out what this firm is like and how important pro bono is to the firm culture. Some firms are very proud of their pro bono record, take it very seriously, give awards to involved pro bono attorneys, and in general celebrate it. In others, the pro bono effort is more perfunctory and cynical - a way to make sure they don't get a "F" in one of those pesky annual law firm surveys on pro bono work. And of course, there are others in between. If the firm you are summering for takes pro bono very seriously, I'd absolutely take the opportunity.

It doesn't hurt to have some litigation knowledge. Even if you're going to be transactionally oriented, it's still worthwhile to have a basic understanding of how the court system works.

You might actually like it. Don't reject the idea of pro bono too quickly. Be advised that many attorneys, especially those doing transactional work, often get to a point in their careers where they are hit with a crisis of "meaning" - in short, "what's the meaning of what I'm doing?" Often it's helping Rich Company A acquire Rich Company B, and while it can be intellectually challenging, it doesn't exactly provide a lot of food for your soul. To have an opportunity, early on, to speak to an actual client, have real responsibility, and do something you feel good about it is an experience that many people find can be the most fulfilling of their careers. So don't discount the value of it too quickly.

Having said all this, and knowing nothing about your firm - I'd advise you to accept the offer of doing pro bono work. You will benefit from getting the greatest variety of experience possible, and pro bono will allow you to get experience you can't possibly get any other way. Throw caution to the winds and just do it.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work