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Why Volunteer
Business and transactional lawyers have long desired opportunities to do good and give back to the community in their areas of expertise. Their desire is one of the primary reasons NC LEAP exists today.
NC LEAP volunteer attorneys have committed themselves to serving the communities in which they live and work. Attorneys have already volunteered hundreds of hours to low-wealth entrepreneurs without regard to their professional prominence and workload. Indeed, NC LEAP attorneys are among the best attorneys serving business and industry in North Carolina and are now voluntarily helping those least able to afford their services.
There are many benefits to volunteering for NC LEAP in addition to fulfilling our ethical obligations. Engaging in Pro Bono also happens to be a good business decision. Here are a few good reasons to volunteer:
- Pro Bono offers professional development opportunities. It allows new associates to handle direct client matters. It can allow opportunities to improve public speaking skills. It helps improve interview, client interaction and legal drafting skills.
- Pro Bono can help retain new associates. A recent ABA study found that Pro Bono opportunities provided new associates with meaningful development opportunities and increased their level of overall satisfaction with their jobs.
- Pro Bono NC LEAP clients can become business development clients. NC LEAP clients are dedicated and hardworking. Many of them are destined for success and those successful businesses will need attorneys.
- NC LEAP provides leadership opportunities for attorneys seeking to become part of the larger Bar leadership. NC LEAP is a good place to gain the skills that will be helpful in leading a section or committee.
- NC LEAP provides malpractice insurance for attorneys who volunteer.
Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono public legal services per year. --Rule 6.1 Voluntary Pro Bono Publico Service (NC Rules of Professional Conduct).