Experts discuss the professionalization of pro bono legal services on Legal Services Corporation’s “Talk Justice” podcast.
Host Lee Rawles is joined by Sandhya Kidd, program counsel for pro bono innovation at LSC, and Kathryn Eidmann, president and CEO of Public Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm.
The American Bar Association encourages every lawyer to devote at least 50 hours to pro bono every year. A growing number of people and firms are making pro bono their full-time occupations and bringing professionalism to this area of legal practice.
Eidmann explains that Public Counsel started in 1970 as the pro bono arm of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.
The organization has grown and currently employs 170 full-time staff, including 80 attorneys — some of whom spend 100% of their time on direct client services, while others also do impact litigation and policy advocacy.
Public Counsel is funded by private donations and government grants, and has built a strong network of private law firm supporters in southern California.
Kidd says legal services organizations funded by LSC are increasingly creating internal structures to manage pro bono services.
“They were always doing pro bono, but now what we’re seeing is more [of a] focus on pro bono as a service delivery model, and because of that, there is a need for staff —full-time staff with a specific skillset that is required to administer and practice pro bono,” said Kidd. “So, when we’re talking about professionalization, in my mind what I’m talking about is seeing a trend towards more legal aids that are hiring full-time staff that are committed to pro bono — directors of pro bono, managing attorneys of pro bono — along with supporting staff on that, which allows a more focused approach to pro bono.”
Having this dedicated staff helps the organization to properly balance their needs, the needs of the client and those of the private partner or volunteer, Kidd explains. Eidmann agrees that she has seen a similar trend and that it extends beyond legal aid.
Kidd provides insights to what “client-centered” services really look like in the context of pro bono. She says that work with clear beneficial client outcomes is in turn motivating to volunteers.
Eidmann describes how private firms can successfully engage in pro bono by choosing a specific case type — she gives the example of unlawful detainer cases —and forming a team who can all be trained to contribute on these cases.
The group also touches on roles for non-attorneys in pro bono. Eidmann says that integrating social workers who can focus on clients’ mental health and other non-legal needs can be very helpful to pro bono attorneys. Kidd explains how Michigan Advocacy Project is using legal navigators to assist clients receiving pro bono expungement services.
Talk Justice episodes are available online and on Spotify, YouTube, Apple and other popular podcast apps. The podcast is sponsored by LSC’s Leaders Council.
Host Lee Rawles is joined by Sandhya Kidd, program counsel for pro bono innovation at LSC, and Kathryn Eidmann, president and CEO of Public Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm.
The American Bar Association encourages every lawyer to devote at least 50 hours to pro bono every year. A growing number of people and firms are making pro bono their full-time occupations and bringing professionalism to this area of legal practice.
Eidmann explains that Public Counsel started in 1970 as the pro bono arm of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.
The organization has grown and currently employs 170 full-time staff, including 80 attorneys — some of whom spend 100% of their time on direct client services, while others also do impact litigation and policy advocacy.
Public Counsel is funded by private donations and government grants, and has built a strong network of private law firm supporters in southern California.
Kidd says legal services organizations funded by LSC are increasingly creating internal structures to manage pro bono services.
“They were always doing pro bono, but now what we’re seeing is more [of a] focus on pro bono as a service delivery model, and because of that, there is a need for staff —full-time staff with a specific skillset that is required to administer and practice pro bono,” said Kidd. “So, when we’re talking about professionalization, in my mind what I’m talking about is seeing a trend towards more legal aids that are hiring full-time staff that are committed to pro bono — directors of pro bono, managing attorneys of pro bono — along with supporting staff on that, which allows a more focused approach to pro bono.”
Having this dedicated staff helps the organization to properly balance their needs, the needs of the client and those of the private partner or volunteer, Kidd explains. Eidmann agrees that she has seen a similar trend and that it extends beyond legal aid.
Kidd provides insights to what “client-centered” services really look like in the context of pro bono. She says that work with clear beneficial client outcomes is in turn motivating to volunteers.
Eidmann describes how private firms can successfully engage in pro bono by choosing a specific case type — she gives the example of unlawful detainer cases —and forming a team who can all be trained to contribute on these cases.
The group also touches on roles for non-attorneys in pro bono. Eidmann says that integrating social workers who can focus on clients’ mental health and other non-legal needs can be very helpful to pro bono attorneys. Kidd explains how Michigan Advocacy Project is using legal navigators to assist clients receiving pro bono expungement services.
Talk Justice episodes are available online and on Spotify, YouTube, Apple and other popular podcast apps. The podcast is sponsored by LSC’s Leaders Council.
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