The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends that all law firms, even start-ups, offer pro bono work to help those who can’t afford legal representation. Many law firms may not know it, but providing such services has a number of important benefits pertaining to the growth of a law firm.
How does pro bono work to grow your personal injury law practice?
There are many benefits to offering pro bono work as part of your personal injury law practice. Here are just a few.
- Building your reputation: Just as you want to build your reputation of trust, reliability and compassion through marketing and networking, you should also consider how pro bono work fits into the overall plan.
- The personal reward: Instead of feeling like pro bono work is limiting your income, try seeing it from a different perspective. I don’t think there is a personal injury attorney I know that doesn’t feel burned out from the constant work pressure, from time to time. Pro bono work can often transform how you feel about your practice. You receive the benefit of helping someone which, in turns, provides a sense of self-satisfaction. It can help restore you and make you more engaged with your staff and your clients. Don’t underestimate the power of feeling good about yourself. Such work can be very re-energizing.
- Expanding your law knowledge: Taking a pro bono case that is not in your usual practice focus can expand your knowledge and competency in other areas of the law. It can also be viewed as an opportunity to expand your skills with working with unfamiliar client types. Immigration law experts are much needed in the country right now, for example, so if you’ve never been exposed to that practice before you can bet you will be networking with a whole new set of connections, skills and resources. How can that be bad for business?
- Providing growth opportunities for your staff: Pro bono work allows staff members, who may not usually be in this position, to take the lead on cases. It can build confidence, and communication skills better than any other venue. Letting the newer staff members take charge of cases will also provide insight for you to see how they may add to the success of your firm in the future.
- Promoting your business: Taking on pro bono cases for non-profit organizations will help, albeit subtly, promote your business. If anyone affiliated with the non-profit ever needs the services of a personal injury lawyer, you can bet your name will pop into their minds.
- Creating a good morale within your personal injury firm. Don’t underestimate how pro bono work, done with a really good attitude will affect the overall morale of your company. It gives staff that don’t normally interact, a chance to do so. Even more importantly, you’ve tied your personal injury law practice to benevolence and compassion and your staff will be proud they work for you.
By setting up a structured pro bono program (who you want to help, staff requirements, program structure, intake or case acceptance criteria), you can not only give to an individual and a community but to yourself and your staff. It can be a win-win situation for everyone.
Group Matrix Blog – February 27, 2018 – By Sharon Bowles
