One of the things I liked most about working at a Biglaw firm was the pro bono opportunities attorneys at such firms typically often have. Many Biglaw firms have established relationships with various pro bono legal organizations, and attorneys at the Biglaw shop at which I worked assisted domestic violence victims, children facing deportation proceedings, and pursued other pro bono matters. Since starting my own practice, I have discovered that it can be difficult for small firm lawyers to complete pro bono work in a similar way to that of many Biglaw lawyers.
One reason why pro bono work is more difficult for small firm lawyers is that time is typically at more of a premium. Numerous lawyers who work at a small firm need to complete administrative and marketing tasks that attorneys at Biglaw firms often do not have to. In addition, the amount of billable hours a small firm lawyer records generally has a direct correlation to the yearly earnings of a small firm lawyer. If a small firm lawyer spends time on pro bono assignments, this can take time away from billable work, which can lead to a reduction in receipts.
Biglaw lawyers often do not have their compensation directly correlated to spending more time on billable work than pro bono assignments. Indeed, some Biglaw firms only permit associates to be eligible for bonuses if they complete a set number of pro bono assignments. Moreover, since Biglaw shops charge more money for billable work, there is generally more money to go around so that attorneys can work on pro bono assignments if they wish.
Another reason why pro bono work is more prevalent at Biglaw shops is that pro bono work is usually more beneficial for Biglaw shops than for smaller law firms. Associates at large law firms might not have the chance to earn hands-on practical experience since clients may not want young attorneys to appear in court on the larger matters handled by such firms. Indeed, many junior associates may spend the bulk of their time simply conducting legal research and drafting memoranda explaining the results of such research.
Pro bono work can present an excellent opportunity for young lawyers at Biglaw shops to gain practical experience. Supervisors at a Biglaw shop might have to answer fewer questions if they send a junior associate to court on a pro bono matter than if they would on a larger billable matter for their regular clients. In addition, during slow periods, pro bono work can help fill the time and give associates something to do that can make them more experienced when they handle similar tasks for paying clients.
In addition, Biglaw firms might get more publicity out of completing pro bono work than smaller law firms do. Biglaw shops usually publicize the pro bono efforts of their attorneys in order to generate good publicity. This is often important for Biglaw shops in order to counterbalance some of the less-appealing work they complete for paying clients. Smaller law firms do not have the same publicity infrastructure that Biglaw shops have, so there is less of an incentive to do good work in order to earn praise. This can lead to fewer pro bono hours completed by small firm lawyers.
All told, many lawyers who work at smaller law firms would probably work on pro bono matters if it did not hurt their bottom lines and if incentives were aligned to prompt pro bono work. If a lawyer is the type of person who likes to complete pro bono matters, they should keep in mind that pro bono work is oftent more difficult to complete as a small firm lawyer.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothmanlawyer.com.
The post Biglaw Firms Have An Easier Time Handling Pro Bono Matters appeared first on Above the Law.
One of the things I liked most about working at a Biglaw firm was the pro bono opportunities attorneys at such firms typically often have. Many Biglaw firms have established relationships with various pro bono legal organizations, and attorneys at the Biglaw shop at which I worked assisted domestic violence victims, children facing deportation proceedings, and pursued other pro bono matters. Since starting my own practice, I have discovered that it can be difficult for small firm lawyers to complete pro bono work in a similar way to that of many Biglaw lawyers.
One reason why pro bono work is more difficult for small firm lawyers is that time is typically at more of a premium. Numerous lawyers who work at a small firm need to complete administrative and marketing tasks that attorneys at Biglaw firms often do not have to. In addition, the amount of billable hours a small firm lawyer records generally has a direct correlation to the yearly earnings of a small firm lawyer. If a small firm lawyer spends time on pro bono assignments, this can take time away from billable work, which can lead to a reduction in receipts.
Biglaw lawyers often do not have their compensation directly correlated to spending more time on billable work than pro bono assignments. Indeed, some Biglaw firms only permit associates to be eligible for bonuses if they complete a set number of pro bono assignments. Moreover, since Biglaw shops charge more money for billable work, there is generally more money to go around so that attorneys can work on pro bono assignments if they wish.
Another reason why pro bono work is more prevalent at Biglaw shops is that pro bono work is usually more beneficial for Biglaw shops than for smaller law firms. Associates at large law firms might not have the chance to earn hands-on practical experience since clients may not want young attorneys to appear in court on the larger matters handled by such firms. Indeed, many junior associates may spend the bulk of their time simply conducting legal research and drafting memoranda explaining the results of such research.
Pro bono work can present an excellent opportunity for young lawyers at Biglaw shops to gain practical experience. Supervisors at a Biglaw shop might have to answer fewer questions if they send a junior associate to court on a pro bono matter than if they would on a larger billable matter for their regular clients. In addition, during slow periods, pro bono work can help fill the time and give associates something to do that can make them more experienced when they handle similar tasks for paying clients.
In addition, Biglaw firms might get more publicity out of completing pro bono work than smaller law firms do. Biglaw shops usually publicize the pro bono efforts of their attorneys in order to generate good publicity. This is often important for Biglaw shops in order to counterbalance some of the less-appealing work they complete for paying clients. Smaller law firms do not have the same publicity infrastructure that Biglaw shops have, so there is less of an incentive to do good work in order to earn praise. This can lead to fewer pro bono hours completed by small firm lawyers.
All told, many lawyers who work at smaller law firms would probably work on pro bono matters if it did not hurt their bottom lines and if incentives were aligned to prompt pro bono work. If a lawyer is the type of person who likes to complete pro bono matters, they should keep in mind that pro bono work is oftent more difficult to complete as a small firm lawyer.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at [email protected].
