The Celebration of Pro Bono Expands to Paralegals

The American Bar Association (ABA) Celebration of Pro Bono is happening now through Oct. 29. The National Celebration of Pro Bono highlights the increasing need for pro bono services. Although national in breadth, this initiative provides an opportunity for legal organizations across the country to collaboratively commemorate the vitally important contributions of America’s lawyers and to recruit and train the many additional volunteers required to meet the growing demand. This initiative provides a format for ­showcasing the incredible difference that pro bono lawyers make to our nation, to our system of justice, to our communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve. However, the Celebration of Pro Bono continues to support, encourage and embrace the role of a paralegal in assisting in the pro bono platform. In fact, Linda A. Klein, president of the American Bar Association, (ABA), states: “The pro bono work accomplished by lawyers across America is dependent, in part, on the invaluable support of trained paralegals and legal assistants. The ABA is appreciative of the National Federation of Paralegal Association’s leadership to ­promote pro bono by its member organizations and of the tremendous pro bono commitment of individual paralegals throughout the country.”

Traditionally, it is the pro bono attorney that has played a central role in direct ­representation in pro bono projects. However, paralegals now play a key role in the access to justice. This role spans across the legal field and encompasses a broad array of practice areas, including ­immigration, domestic violence, housing and criminal justice. For example, paralegals now serve as volunteers at Philadelphia VIP. Lauren R. Ascher, supervising attorney at Philadelphia VIP, states: “Paralegal ­volunteers provide crucial assistance to VIP clients in a variety of ways. We often need volunteer notaries to travel to client’s homes or the homes of their family members to notarize documents. Volunteer paralegals also conduct intakes in court for the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program. There, volunteers interview homeowners who require legal assistance to negotiate with lender’s counsel. Finally, volunteer paralegals assist with the Landlord Tenant Help Center and even on substantive cases under the supervision of volunteer attorneys. We always have an ongoing need for their help.”