Why do lawyers work for free on EDLC cases?
Lawyers are justifiably proud of their long tradition of undertaking pro bono representation of clients who are otherwise unable to afford legal services. Law firms of all political stripes and sizes frequently render invaluable legal services without charge to such clients. The “Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge,” launched in 1993 by the American Bar Association, raised the stakes by calling on big firms to contribute 3 to 5 percent of their billable hours to pro bono. This challenge has been accepted and met by large American law firms. There is a strong commitment to pro bono work in the United Kingdom, and many Latin American law firms have recently pledged to substantially increase their pro bono efforts. Scores of lawyers have donated thousands of hours working on EDLC cases, often traveling to distant countries to help their clients. Several senior partners at the firms have told EDLC that the cases they have worked on have been among the most meaningful of their entire careers.
Related Questions
- Many lawyers claim that they settle most of their cases. How is Collaborative Law different from what they do when they settle in a conventional law practice?
- What gives American and European lawyers and EDLC the right to become involved in what some may consider to be the internal affairs of other nations?
- How does EDLC select its cases?
