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Best Practices Manual for Pro Bono Service Providers

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Best Practices Manual for Pro Bono Service Providers BEST PRACTICES MANUAL FOR PRO BONO SERVICE PROVIDERS PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER OF MARYLAND Written by Claire A. Smearman, Esquire Edited by Sharon E. Goldsmith, Esquire Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland 520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 410-837-9379 / 800-396-1274 www.probonomd.org © 2011 Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Inc. BEST PRACTICES MANUAL FOR PRO BONO SERVICE PROVIDERS PRO BONO RESOURCE CENTER OF MARYLAND © 2011 Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Inc. Cover Photos courtesy of: C. Hamburger/FOCO David Berger, Berger & Associates Copyright 2011 This Best Practices Manual for Pro Bono Service Providers has been formatted for ease of double-sided printing. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Best Practices Manual for Pro Bono Service Providers would not have been possible without the support of Maryland's pro bono programs, whose responses to the Best Practices Questionnaire distributed by the Pro Bono Resource Center in November of 2009 became an integral part of what follows. Many of Maryland's pro bono service providers also contributed sample forms, letters, policies and brochures which are included in the Appendix, providing useful models for other programs seeking to implement these Best Practices. Thanks is due as well to the pro bono programs from other states who contributed their forms and policies to this effort. Many thanks to: Allegany Law Foundation, Inc. House of Ruth Maryland Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center Jewish Community Services Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc. Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. Bar Association of Baltimore City ― Legal Services Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, Inc. to the Elderly Program Maryland Disability Law Center CASA of Maryland, Inc. Maryland Immigrant Rights Coalition Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services Maryland Nonprofits Center for Economic Progress Midwest Tax Clinic Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service Civil Justice, Inc. Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence, Inc. Community Law Center Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Inc. Community Legal Services and Volunteer Lawyers Montgomery County Bar Foundation Pro Bono Program of Arizona Program Community Legal Services of Prince George's Public Justice Center, Inc. County, Inc. Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy Domestic Violence Center of Howard County, Inc. St. Ambrose Aid Center, Inc. Eastern Shore Regional Library of Maryland State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project Harford County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Volunteer Lawyers Network of Minnesota Service Women's Law Center of Maryland , Inc. Heartly House, Inc. YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc. Maryland, Inc. The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland is very grateful to the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for providing the funding necessary to complete this project and for their enduring support of the pro bono effort in Maryland. A special thanks to legal intern Emily Fisher and volunteer attorney Renée Hood, Esq., who devoted endless hours to assist with the research, proofreading and formatting of the Best Practices Manual and the compilation of its appendices. ii Best Practices Manual for Pro Bono Services Providers Table of Contents List of Appendices ........................................................................................................................................ ix Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... xii PART I: A MARYLAND PRO BONO HANDBOOK Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 A. History of Pro Bono in Maryland ...................................................................................................... 2 1. Early Development of Pro Bono ................................................................................................. 2 2. Adoption of Mandatory Pro Bono Reporting in Maryland .............................................. 5 3. Creation of Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Service and Local Pro Bono Committees .................................................................................................................... 6 4. Assessment of Needs and Identification of Obstacles to Pro Bono Service .............. 7 B. Response to the Economic Downturn and Crisis in Legal Services Funding ................... 8 1. Access to Justice Commission ...................................................................................................10 2. Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project ...........................................................................11 C. Maryland Pro Bono Basics ................................................................................................................12 1. What constitutes pro bono service? .......................................................................................12 2. What are the requirements for pro bono service? ...........................................................13 3. What are the reporting requirements for pro bono service? .......................................13 4. What type of work qualifies as pro bono service? ............................................................14 5. Who qualifies for income-based legal services in Maryland? ......................................14 6. What legal services are available in Maryland? .................................................................15 7. What pro bono programs are available in Maryland? .....................................................16 8. What pro bono opportunities are available for volunteer attorneys? ......................16 iii 9. What resources and support are available for pro bono attorneys? .........................18 10. Do pro bono services rendered independently of a program qualify as pro bono for reporting purposes? ...........................................................................................18 11. What activities constitute improving the law, the legal profession, or the legal system? ............................................................................................................................19 12. Who is doing pro bono service in Maryland? .....................................................................19 13. What types of pro bono services are being provided? ....................................................20 14. What is the area of greatest demand for legal services? ................................................21 15. Why do pro bono? .........................................................................................................................21 PART II: BEST PRACTICES FOR PRO BONO SERVICE PROVIDERS Overview ...........................................................................................................................................................24 Chapter 1. Volunteer Recruitment, Retention and Recognition Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................26 A. Volunteer Recruitment .......................................................................................................................27 1. Pro Bono Recruitment Plans .....................................................................................................27 2. Pro Bono Recruitment Brochures ...........................................................................................29 3. New Admittees and Young Lawyers ......................................................................................31 4. Senior and Retired Attorneys ...................................................................................................33 5. Government Attorneys ................................................................................................................35 6. Law Firms .........................................................................................................................................37 7. Short-Term Pro Bono Opportunities .....................................................................................39 8. Pro Bono Recruitment Campaigns ..........................................................................................41 B. Volunteer Retention ............................................................................................................................43 9. New Volunteer Attorneys ...........................................................................................................43 10. Established Pro Bono Attorneys ..............................................................................................45 11. Saying “Thank You” .......................................................................................................................47 C. Volunteer Recognition ........................................................................................................................49 12. Annual Pro Bono Awards ...........................................................................................................49 13. Annual Pro Bono Awards Ceremony .....................................................................................51 14. Creative Ways to Honor Your Volunteers ............................................................................53
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