March 21, 2012 – This year, National Volunteer Week (April 15-21) and Law Day (May 1) give us a perfect excuse to stretch out of our comfort zones to use our skills, meet new people, try new things, and
Dear Friend,
This year, National Volunteer Week (April 15-21) and Law Day (May 1) give us a perfect excuse to stretch out of our comfort zones to use our skills, meet new people, try new things, and volunteer in our communities.
The 2012 Law Day theme, No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom, reminds us that our courts must remain fair, impartial, neutral and non-partisan in order to do justice by settling disputes peacefully according to the law, and safeguarding each person’s constitutional rights.
To celebrate Law Day and Volunteer Week, I plan to participate in a public education program and tour at the Dane County Courthouse, meet with children at a school in Milwaukee and speak at several public outreach events in La Crosse. Opportunities are everywhere to use our legal skills and people skills to contribute to improving life in our communities. Look around you, you will find many places that need you, including, for example:
The Board of Bar Examiners, the Lawyer Regulation System, other court committees, and the State Bar Board of Governors all depend upon the work of volunteer lawyers and non-lawyers. Find out more.
Local county bar associations host outreach events and clinics to provide free or low-cost legal advice, mediate foreclosures and small claims disputes, help veterans and much more. Find out more about local bar associations.
The Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission, and its committees, help to make it easier for low-income people to find legal representation.
Statewide and local Pro Bono Programs, including the UW Law School’s Pro Bono Program, the Marquette University Law School’s Pro Bono Program, and the State Bar of Wisconsin's Pro Bono Program, support a spectrum of projects.
During National Volunteer Week and Law Day we recognize and celebrate our volunteers and their commitment to providing services to others in their communities. Share your skills, your time, and your talents. That’s all we can ask of one another. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Volunteer Week and Law Day.
Shirley S. Abrahamson
Chief Justice
Wisconsin Supreme Court
