Shore Legal Access

Every October, legal organizations across the country come together for the National Celebration of Pro Bono—a time to recognize the extraordinary contributions of volunteer attorneys and to highlight the continuing need for lawyers willing to use their skills to help people who cannot afford legal representation.

This year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono takes place October 25–31, with the theme “Serving Justice. Strengthening Democracy.” Since the American Bar Association launched the celebration in 2009, it has provided an opportunity not only to thank attorneys who donate their time, but also to remind us why pro bono service is so important to a fair and accessible justice system. (American Bar Association)

At Shore Legal Access, we see the impact of pro bono service every day. Since we started twenty years ago, volunteer attorneys have provided more than 100,000 hours of free legal services for people who otherwise could not afford a lawyer. That’s nearly $10 million in absolutely free, life-changing legal help. A legal issue involving housing, family, debt, a criminal record, or planning for the future can affect nearly every aspect of a person's life. Yet many people simply cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Civil legal aid organizations like Shore Legal Access help bridge that gap—but we cannot do it alone. Volunteer attorneys allow organizations like Shore Legal Access to extend our reach far beyond what our staff could accomplish by themselves. They take cases, meet with clients at legal clinics, provide brief advice, prepare documents, and share their knowledge with people navigating complicated legal systems.

Sometimes the commitment is substantial, including representation in a court trial. Other times, a lawyer may volunteer for just a few hours at a clinic. Both can have a profound impact. A few hours of an attorney's time might help a parent understand their rights, prevent an eviction, help an older adult put essential life-planning documents in place, help someone clear an eligible criminal record that has been standing between them and employment, or help a family address a legal problem before it becomes a crisis. That is what makes pro bono service so powerful: lawyers can use skills they already possess to create meaningful change in someone else's life.

The American Bar Association describes pro bono work as both a professional responsibility and an individual ethical commitment of lawyers. The National Celebration of Pro Bono was created in response to the growing need for legal assistance and the remarkable willingness of attorneys to step forward to meet that need. Today, legal organizations throughout the country use the celebration to provide services, train attorneys, recruit new volunteers, and—just as importantly—thank the lawyers who serve throughout the year. (American Bar Association)

For communities like ours on Maryland's Eastern Shore, volunteer attorneys are the heart and soul of our work. Geography, transportation, limited financial resources, and a shortage of available legal assistance can all make it difficult for people to get help when they need it. Pro bono attorneys help us bring the promise of equal justice closer to reality. Eastern Shore attorneys contribute

And volunteering benefits lawyers, too. Pro bono work offers opportunities to develop new skills, gain courtroom and client experience, connect with colleagues, and reconnect with one of the reasons many people entered the legal profession in the first place: to help people solve problems and make a difference.

During National Celebrate Pro Bono Month, we extend our deepest gratitude to the attorneys who give their time and talents to Shore Legal Access and to pro bono programs throughout Maryland. Your service strengthens families, creates stability, opens doors to opportunity, and helps build confidence in our justice system.

And to attorneys who have been thinking about volunteering, October is the perfect time to begin. You do not have to change your practice or take on a large caseload to make a difference. Give an hour. Volunteer at a clinic. Accept one case. Learn a new area of law. Mentor another volunteer. There are many ways to serve. That is how we strengthen access to justice—one person at a time. One hour at a time adds up to a big impact on our communities. At Shore Legal Access, we take volunteerism seriously. We provide our volunteers with training, malpractice insurance, case management support, and mentoring. To learn more about volunteering, go to shorelegal.org.