Vol. 75, No. 4, April
2002
Others' Pro Bono Work Can Inspire Us
In May, the Board of Governors will vote on whether the Bar should
require the mandatory reporting of voluntary pro bono efforts.
by Gerry Mowris
My friend and law school classmate, Peter Rubin, worked for
the State Public Defender for many years, representing kids in court.
His commitment to helping kids went beyond his employment and the
courtroom doors. He and his wife Barb took in foster kids, volunteered
in their community, and coached kids on Madison's south side. About a
decade ago, Peter discovered he had cancer. Despite initial victories in
his battle against the disease, his cancer eventually prevailed and
Peter died in 1995. Peter's spirit lives on through a charitable
foundation called "Rubin For Kids." An annual fundraiser in his name
affords scholarships to kids for camps and sports teams, clothing so
kids can attend school dances, and money for legal help for kids with
legal problems.
I believe that if we had a method of tracking and collecting the pro
bono activities of our profession (of lawyers like Peter), we could
share our stories and inspire others to get involved or increase their
level of service. I believe that one way to encourage community
involvement is to require mandatory reporting of pro bono hours,
activities, and contributions (not mandatory pro bono).
In March the Board of Governors debated the issue of mandatory
reporting. Some are against it because they believe lawyers should
perform pro bono because it is a higher moral imperative, not because
the rules guilt them into it. Others believe that pro bono is an
integral part of the profession and that building awareness of what is
really being done will encourage more of it. I'm with the latter.
Immediately following the Annual Convention in May, the Board of
Governors will discuss and vote on a mandatory pro bono reporting
proposal. The proposal came from our Legal Assistance Committee, which
asked that all lawyers report their pro bono hours, activities, and
contributions to the committee annually so it can evaluate the amount
and type of pro bono activities lawyers are involved in. The committee's
request for mandatory reporting includes a "sunset" provision in 2006. I
believe this is a step in the right direction to encourage pro bono
activity, and the research supports it.
When the Florida Bar implemented a similar proposal in 1994,
approximately 516,000 hours of pro bono were reported. By 2000, that
number had grown to more than 1.1 million. Other research tells us that
community involvement positively impacts people's impressions of the
justice system. The research conducted by our Public Trust and
Confidence Committee last year showed that lawyers and judges who are
active in the community are perceived to be more trustworthy and more
attuned to societal problems than those who are not. Community
involvement builds public trust. It helps the entire justice system.
As the board grapples with mandatory reporting of pro bono, think
about Peter Rubin and how he still gives back. Remember we all have such
an obligation. If you choose to contribute money rather than time to
fulfill your pro bono obligation, consider "Rubin For Kids," P.O. Box
1405, Madison, WI 53701, as one donation point.
Building public trust. On May 15, in conjunction
with the Annual Convention in Madison, the
State Bar will honor attorneys, judges, law firms, organizations, and
law students who made outstanding pro bono, public service, or
law-related education contributions in 2001. It is a wonderful
celebration and reaffirms lawyers' commitment to serving our communities
and the public. A showcase program, "Disparities in the Justice System:
A look at how unequal treatment affects public trust," will take place
on May 16. These two events, although separate, are related. Building
public trust in our system hinges on judicial and attorney involvement
in the community. Please join us.
Wisconsin
Lawyer