By Daniella Price
Growing up, my grandmother would often say to me, “To whom much is given, much is required.” As a child, I did not fully grasp this notion, but I understand the impact of her words now. I have learned that with privilege comes great responsibility.
As legal professionals, pro bono is an opportunity to contribute to a more equitable legal system. It is the cornerstone of our profession’s commitment to equal justice under the law. Pro bono often bridges the gap to access to justice for all and promotes fairness.
Between managing a heavy caseload, competing deadlines, and other obligations it was difficult for me to find time to do pro bono work. However, recently, a New Jersey court assigned me a pro bono case in Camden County. This wasn’t just any case. It was a violation of a Temporary Restraining Order. This pro bono assignment was so far beyond the scope of my civil practice and personal beliefs that I called the court to confirm the assignment was meant for me. It was. Truthfully, I could not reconcile my everyday work representing survivors of sexual abuse with representing someone accused of violating a Temporary Restraining Order.
Then I was reminded of my grandmother’s words. I recalled the oath I took to defend the Constitution and have always held firm to the belief that everyone deserved the right to competent counsel. So, with these tenets in mind, I began to prepare the case. With the help of colleagues, I received the discovery from the prosecutor. From my review, the facts weren’t in my favor. But I needed to talk with my client. Unfortunately, I did not get that opportunity.
I arrived at the courthouse and made one last attempt to call my client. This time he picked up. We met in the hallway where it seemed that other attorneys and clients were similarly situated. It was chaotic, but he was a calm spirit. I asked him to tell me what happened, and he immediately took accountability for his actions. Next, I took the time to get to know him. He was a young man who lived under the radar. He was smart and content with going to work and back home. He took pride in his beautiful children and smiled big when he showed me their pictures. His only concern was going to jail and being away from his children. I found myself encouraging him to give himself grace for the lapse in judgment and to learn from this situation and pursue his goals. Suddenly, I became an advocate of the man and not the matter. Ultimately, I was able to negotiate probation for him. Now understanding the full story, I wished I could have achieved a better result for him; however, he was pleased with the outcome. He was extremely grateful for my representation, but most of all, he was thankful that I took time to hear and see him.
This Spring issue is full of similar stories. Pro bono service is one of the few times where you get more out than what you put in. While lawyers work to help change the circumstances of others, in many ways pro bono changes us. As we reflect on the benefits of pro bono service, I challenge us all to take time to engage in pro bono work. Because to whom much is given, much is required.
Daniella R. Price is co-editor in chief of The Philadelphia Lawyer and a partner at Baldante & Rubenstein.
