Occasionally, I just can't resist the urge to use this space to express my admiration for the great work that Baker Donelson attorneys are doing on a pro bono basis. Our lawyers continue to have great success on behalf of the firm’s pro bono clients, and I'd like to share a few recent highlights with you.  Please - indulge me for just a couple of minutes.
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Earlier this week, I participated in a panel presentation for the Legal Marketing Association. Topic - Marketing Your Law Firm's Pro Bono Program. Contrary to what might seem the natural and immediate reaction, marketing pro bono is not an oxymoron.
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I really love to see true dedication to public service recognized, even though those most dedicated to such causes tend to be the least interested in being recognized. But they deserve it the most!

A beautiful example is the recent Justice Robert H. Benham Community Service Awards bestowed by the Georgia Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism and the State Bar of Georgia.
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You already know that Baker Donelson lawyers love pro bono, but I'm here to tell you - our staff loves pro bono too! It is so easy, and so rewarding, to get law firm staff involved in pro bono work. Of course, they can do the same kinds of things on pro bono matters that they do on files for paying clients - the typical secretarial and paralegal work that has to be done in any legal matter. They can prepare documents, summarize depositions, help with trial preparation, just as they always do. But when it comes to pro bono, there are additional opportunities for staff that offer them the chance to get more directly involved. read more

One of the great things about being invited to be on a panel at the Pro Bono Institute's wonderful annual conference is that, even though I was presumable asked because I know something about the topic, I always learn much more from my fellow panelists. Such was the case last week, when I served with McGregor Smythe of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Steven Fus, Assistant General Counsel at United Airlines, Inc. Our topic was pro bono opportunities in prison re-entry.
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Have I been quiet lately? Among other things, I've been getting ready for Project Homeless Connect 2013 in Birmingham, which took place on Saturday March 9. What an awesome day!
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Why do pro bono? There are many great reasons, of course. Almost as many great reasons as there are lawyers to do pro bono and pro bono clients to serve. But one you may not have thought about is this: our corporate clients are doing pro bono, and they want us to do it too.

At the most recent Pro Bono Institute conference, attendees were invited to talk on video about the importance of pro bono. read more

As with most law firms, year-end is a time for counting both our blessings and our profitability. Of course, the clients who place their trust in us, and their legal business with us, are among our foremost blessings. We are grateful to you, our clients, for your faith and confidence in us, for the stimulating legal work you provide, and for the partnerships and friendships we have with you. read more

It's hard to believe that 2012 is coming to a close - nearly halfway through December already? Preparing for the holidays and working on my annual office clean out (which my beloved secretary absolutely despises) has me thinking over the year and the ups and downs Baker Donelson's pro bono program has experienced in the last twelve months or so.

A lot has happened, pro bono wise, in the past year, and most of it has been great! Some highlights: read more

So, it is almost Pro Bono Week - the annual celebration of what so many of us do as a part of our day to day practices. We try to help. We try to stem the tide of injustice. Sometimes, we get pretty tired. Frankly, right now I'm exhausted, and Pro Bono Week hasn't even arrived yet. But even so, I'm very glad to take part in Pro Bono Week, and I'm excited about it. read more