Believe it or not, attorneys do get free time occasionally. When they do, many may apply their legal background toward practical aid to the community. There are numerous legal organizations that facilitate this process. The goals of these organizations are usually to match lawyers and other legal professionals to areas in need, or major societal issues. These organizations are generally non-profit and operate through the volunteer work of their members.
One common legal organization that is established in almost every major and middle-sized metropolitan area is a women’s law society. These groups focus on the advancement of women beyond the glass ceiling and into important areas of leadership. Even within the legal community, gender discrepancies are highly evident. For example, most large law firms have less than 10% female partners. Furthermore, male judges far outnumber female judges. Many of these women’s law societies work to accomplish their goals by hosting social and fundraising events where women can network with each other. More experienced members may have a system to mentor less experienced members by providing advice and leads to advance their careers.
Another common legal organization is an animal defense fund. These groups are dedicated to prosecuting and drawing attention to animal cruelty. Many times, these groups may include attorneys, but also veterinarians, and anyone who is an animal lover. The legal professionals in this group may petition for local governments to adopt stricter rules on what governs animal cruelty and what the punishments for such conduct should be. They may also educate the public on proper pet treatment. When serious incidents of animal cruelty occur in their local region, they may pressure the local prosecutors to pursue claims made by victims.
Among the most important legal organizations that function through volunteer work by attorneys are training courses that teach urban youth proper police procedure. These groups visit local schools to inform young students about what a proper police stop is, when a police officer can search property, and when they should speak or cooperate with police officers. These programs, in the end, have a positive impact on police and local community relations. Through better education, urban youths grow to trust police by discovering the legal boundaries on police action and being aware of their Constitutional rights.
If you are a lawyer who has thought about how you can impact the world beyond legal work, you should check out one of these many organizations. The experience will often help you build ties to the local community and network with other professionals on an intimate and non-conflict basis.