Giving Back: Why Lawyers Need to Spend More Time Volunteering
By Terrie S. Wheeler
During a time when your key focus is on serving existing clients and attracting new ones, consider taking a short step back and also looking at your involvement in community activities and volunteerism. Consider the fact that now more than ever, non-profit organizations need your time, talent and expertise. Community involvement is a great way to build your name recognition and to build relationships with other like-minded, busy professionals.
Assess your Current Volunteer Activities
Take a look at your current volunteer efforts and rate yourself in the following areas. Give yourself a letter grade, A-D (A= weekly B=monthly C=quarterly D=annually). How often do you:
- Provide pro-bono legal services to those less fortunate
- Sponsor an event in the community
- Serve on a non-profit board and regularly attend meetings
- Volunteer in the community
- Contribute financially to an organization you support
Why Should You Do Pro Bono Work or Volunteer?
There are many reasons it makes sense to volunteer your time and expertise to others. Consider this short list:
- It’s the right thing to do
- You will gain a sense of gratification from your service
- We are in a culture of volunteerism and civic engagement
- Your pro-bono work can help develop skills or even cultivate new ones
- Volunteering can provide you with the opportunity to collaborate outside your key areas of expertise
- It can help improve the public’s opinion of you and your firm
- It can be a source for new clients and facilitate your career because you will make new contacts
Volunteer Resources for Attorneys
Board Source – Formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards, this is the premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide.
Access a national database to help you find a wide variety of charitable organizations and IRS-recognized non-profits:
Use a national volunteer clearinghouse to help you find specific ways to get involved in your local community – from volunteering and donating money, to getting involved with the issues they care about.
- Network for Good
- Volunteer Match
- Volunteer Solutions – sponsored by United Way
- 1-800-Volunteer – a service of the Points of Light Foundation
- Federal Government volunteer opportunities – this site lists volunteer opportunities at national parks, forests, and monuments
Check out these resources about opportunities to do pro-bono legal work:
- Probono.net – this site lists pro bono opportunities in 30 states
- The American Bar Association has some guidelines on pro bono and public service, including a best practices resources guide
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About MYLP
Unique Web-Based Tool to Help Lawyers Develop New Business
ESQCoach, Terrie Wheeler has been helping lawyers attract new clients for more than 24 years. In 1996, she founded Professional Services Marketing, Inc. (PSM), helping professionals develop Targeted Strategies for Business Growth. In January 2011 Terrie merged PSM with Ingenuity Marketing Group in Saint Paul, MN.
Launched in 2007, www.MarketYourLawPractice.com (MYLP), is an innovative web-based marketing coaching tool for lawyers which replicates ESQCoach Terrie Wheeler’s individual marketing coaching process. Today, MYLP is helping lawyers across the US and in the UK develop new business, retain and grow current client relationships, increase their name recognition and more effectively communicate with clients.
Numerous bar associations across the country, including New York, California, New Jersey, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and others, have recognized MYLP as a cost-effective marketing coaching and training tool for lawyers and have partnered with MYLP to offer the tool as a valuable member benefit.
MYLP was recently launched internationally in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Visit www.MarketYourLawPractice.co.uk, developed with our UK business partner, James Dunning of Geotrupes Consulting.
Join our Linkedin Group: The Legal Network - created just for lawyers and in-house marketing professionals to compare best marketing practices.
We have also launched a sister product for financial advisors, www.MarketYourFinancialPractice.com, and are marketing the site nationally to financial advisory firms.
For more information, contact Terrie: ESQCoach@MarketYourLawPractice.com
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I am currently studying for the law school entrance exam, and giving back to my community and others will be very important to me. Thank you for the tips and websites of volunteerism for attorneys.
[...] To learn more about the importance of community involvement in your marketing efforts, read my blog post “Giving Back: Why Lawyers Need to Spend More Time Volunteering.” [...]