Paralegals and Pro Bono: Heller Ehrman Wins ABA Award
At this year's ABA Annual Meeting, the law firm of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe was awarded the prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service. In announcing the award, Robert Weiner, chair of this ABA committee said, "Heller Ehrman's extraordinary commitment of time and resources and its dedication to serving those who cannot afford to pay, reflects the best tradition of the legal profession. The firm stands as an example for all of us."
Heller Ehrman has had a long tradition of helping San Francisco's needy population and working on matters in the public interest since its founding in 1890. And the paralegals at the firm are part of that tradition. Among the many kinds of projects the firm handles are helping the homeless, representing nonprofits, and working on cases involving political asylum, immigration and deportation, hate crimes, prison law, community development, and civil rights matters.
The firm is involved with a wide array of groups in carrying out its pro bono work, including the NAACP, MALDEF, ACLU, National Gay Rights Advocates, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Volunteer Legal Services, Bet Tzedek, Legal Aid Society of San Francisco, Public Counsel, AIDS Legal Referral Panel, the Asian Law Caucus and others.
Heller Ehrman's nomination for the ABA award was unique, in that it came from four bar associations acting collaboratively (Seattle, Los Angeles, Santa Clara County and San Francisco). The joint nomination is a tribute to the firm's commitment to pro bono work in several cities where it has offices. About 215 legal services groups joined in making the nomination as well.
Upon hearing of the award, the chair of the firm's Pro Bono Committee, Bob Borton, said, "The hard work of our associates, shareholders, legal assistants and staff has earned us this honor for the firm. Pro bono work continues to be one of the things that brings excitement and a sense of purpose to our practice . . . ."
Heller Ehrman was one of the first law firms in the country to sign on to the ABA Pro Bono Challenge, in which the lawyers in the country's top 500 firms were asked to commit three to five percent of their firms' billable hours to pro bono projects. Heller Ehrman came out at four percent in 1999, devoting 40,000 hours of time to pro bono work. On average, each lawyer spent 80 hours on pro bono work.
Everyone in the firm is encouraged to participate. The firm's Pro Bono Committee manages the pro bono practice and a legal assistant serves on this committee. Bob Borton attributes the success of the program to the talented and interested people who work for the firm. "Management supports everyone's doing pro bono work but the key is that the firm has the kind of people who are connected to the community and committed to this kind of work," says Bob.
The firm's pro bono committee publicizes pro bono projects and staff clinics through its daily newsletter that shows up on everyone's computer screen each morning. Internal recognition for pro bono work and achievements is given. Another key ingredient of the pro bono practice is that lawyers and paralegals are credited for the time spent toward billable hour requirements. A former Heller Ehrman paralegal, Helen Yune, recalls how easy the firm makes it to participate. "Clinic nights are announced well in advance. Billing numbers are given out so that you can record your time and get it credited toward the billable hour requirements," Helen says. "The firm also provides a casual dinner after the clinics, which allows us a chance to talk about the cases and to socialize."
The paralegals at Heller Ehrman have found that the monthly law clinics run by the firm are an effective way to introduce paralegals to pro bono work. "Paralegals are invited to work in the clinic, which handles all kinds of cases, like family law and landlord-tenant matters. Paralegals are doing intake and other tasks under lawyer supervision and are exposed to many areas of law practice that they would not otherwise get to work in," says Y'Anad Burrell-Carter, a Heller Ehrman paralegal.
Dawn Salazar, another Heller Ehrman paralegal, finds the pro bono work very gratifying. "I have been entrusted with meaningful substantive work in the pro bono cases I have been involved with. I have done investigative work in some cases and had a lot of client contact, which is different from the work I normally do. The cases are really interesting and fulfilling."
Helen Yune credits the clinic and Bob Borton with her involvement in pro bono. "Bob leads the HEWM groups at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights clinic," recalls Helen. "He is very dedicated to providing legal assistance to those who cannot afford it. His compassion and genuine concern for the clients and the lawyers and paralegals who volunteer motivated me to return to the clinic a second time."
Y'Anad has participated actively in the Heller Ehrman pro bono program for more than eight years. She mainly handles applications for SSI benefits for disabled children. "I love this work because helping children is my passion," Y'Anad says. Victor Gonzales, another Heller Ehrman paralegal shares Y'Anad's appreciation for the human element in the pro bono work. "It is great to work on cases that are 'people oriented,' " says Victor. "When you are doing corporate work most of the time, you really appreciate work that is more personal and direct," he adds.
The sense of satisfaction derived from doing pro bono work permeates the comments of all the Heller Ehrman paralegals. Ann Whitehead, another Heller Ehrman paralegal, who has spent two years working on a church bankruptcy, talks enthusiastically about helping the church to reorganize and to merge with another church. "The best part has been working first hand with the church members, whom I have grown to respect and, in some cases, to love."
Dawn Salazar worked for more than a year on a big white-collar criminal case and is now working on a civil case involving the denial of SSI benefits to persons with physical or mental disabilities. "I am excited about this new case since I have been involved from the time that Heller Ehrman took the case," says Dawn, who has also handled some SSI and landlord/tenant matters at the clinic.
Victor Gonzalez has worked on amnesty and eviction cases. He has served as a translator, and enjoys the chance to use his foreign language ability in face-to-face meetings, on telephone conferences and in writing letters. He also likes the direct attorney and client contact. Y'Anad also emphasizes the pleasure in working directly with needy clients. "After working with clients who have access to so many resources, it is gratifying to see those less fortunate get their legal needs taken care of," says Y'Anad.
Heller Ehrman's pro bono program has the added benefit of bringing together people in the firm who would not ordinarily work together. "As an estate planning and probate paralegal, I had few opportunities to work with people outside my small department," Helen says. "This work attracts people that have a common interest in helping others. There was an immense spirit of cooperation within the group and a great appreciation for the paralegals' work."
As everyone at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe celebrates the firm's 110th anniversary this year, they can also celebrate being honored with the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award. But chances are the celebration will not last long - to these dedicated lawyers and paralegals, the real reward is in the pro bono work itself, in the knowledge that they are helping people and worthy causes that would otherwise go unrepresented.
