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Letter From The President of Many of you may have heard about the Pro Bono Partnership by now and are aware of its achievements during the first year, including recognition from the American Bar Association (ABA) for its outstanding public service. But just exactly what is the Pro Bono Partnership and how does it work from the perspective of a corporate attorney who volunteers? The Pro Bono Partnership is not actually a separate legal entity. It is a project initiated by the Corporate Bar Fund, Inc., in 1997 under the leadership of Bob Healing. The Fund is a non-profit, Connecticut non-stock corporation which has been working in the pro bono field since 1988. The Partnership is funded by contributions from companies in New York and Connecticut, and individual attorneys, including members of The Corporate Bar Association. The Partnership acts as a resource center for predominantly in-house attorneys to provide legal services to non-profit community based organizations that work in the areas of health and human services, affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization. Rick Hobish serves as Executive Director of the Partnership from its offices in White Plains, New York. So, how does it work? First, the Partnership identifies and screens non-profit organizations to ensure that they meet the Partnership's criteria for selection. Once a client is accepted, the partnership's staff contacts potential volunteers and sends them information about the client and its legal needs. If the volunteer is interested in working with the client, he or she will be asked to attend a meeting with the client and a lawyer from the Partnership at which expectations and timelines will be discussed (although most of the projects are not time sensitive). The volunteers then assume responsibility for the project, but not without the necessary support. The projects generally require expertise consistent with the legal skills of a corporate attorney. To the extent assistance is needed, the Partnership can provide legal forms, research by law students, and consultation with Partnership staff and private attorneys who are specialists in the laws of non-profit and tax exempt organizations. The volunteer is not cast adrift to spend countless hours grappling with a new area of law. As part of its support, the Partnership also provides professional liability insurance coverage for work done by the volunteer. The Corporate Bar is proud to have assisted in the formation of the Pro Bono Partnership and continues to provide ongoing support in terms of both fund raising and soliciting volunteer attorneys. From my own experience, the Partnership represents an excellent opportunity for a corporate attorney to perform pro bono work consistent with the time constraints increasingly felt by in-house counsel. The Partnership will need the participation and strong leadership of dedicated corporate counsel in order to sustain its success. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, you should contact Rick Hobish at (914) 328-0674. Sincerely, WIlliam D. Cotter Reprinted by Permission of The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel |
