Doing pro bono work is not just about offering free legal services for the greater good. It also provides a multitude of benefits to the attorneys who perform them. Despite the challenging fast-paced legal environment, the increase in the hours devoted to pro bono work reflects its inherent value. A study showed an upward trend of pro bono work from 4.2 million hours in 2015 to 5.45 million hours in 2020. Even with a slight decrease in 2022, the impact and importance of pro bono work remain significant.
According to the popular Chinese saying, “If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” This sentiment resonates with the study by Titova and Sheldon (2021) in The Journal of Positive Psychology that concluded that making others happy can elevate personal happiness even more than focusing on oneself. This psychological reward may be a contributing factor to the zeal lawyers display in volunteering for pro bono services.
Beyond the psychological benefits, pro bono work also offers the opportunity for legal professionals to diversify their expertise and improve their skills. Legal professionals often get a chance to work on matters that differ from their paying practices, offering a valuable practical experience that is crucial for skill development, especially for junior lawyers.
Pro bono activities are effective avenues for building stronger bonds with colleagues and broadening professional networks. The collaborative nature of pro bono work can lead to new relationships, strengthen camaraderie, and connect lawyers across organizations.
Firms that prioritize corporate responsibility are increasingly appealing to lawyers. Pro bono practices form a significant part of firms’ corporate responsibility initiatives contributing to brand recognition, firm culture, and recruitment. Promisingly, more clients are beginning to notice and appreciate such contributions from law firms.
Pro bono involvement frequently leads to leadership opportunities, exemplified by the increasing dedicated pro bono partner roles in law firms globally, as reported by the International Bar Association. These trends are reflective of the evolution and growth of pro bono services over the last decade.
In summary, doing pro bono work is not just the right thing to do; it’s also the smart thing to do, as it can greatly enhance professional growth, personal happiness, societal recognition and offer leadership opportunities. For more personalized guidance on how to leverage pro bono work to enhance your legal career, you may want to reach out to Lateral Link. This organization specializes in aligning lawyers’ career trajectories with their professional aspirations and personal values.
You can also read the original article detailing these observations in Pro Bono work here.