What is the ABA Second Season of Service Commission?

The Commission on Second Season of Service is the American Bar Association's service to lawyers who are leaving the full-time practice of law, or their long-term practices, but who wish to remain active and committed to their communities.

The upcoming transition of the 'Boomer' generation is the single largest transformation of a workforce in modern times. Retirement will have a dramatic impact on the legal profession as well. The ABA is committed to helping its members who wish to continue practicing law--either as a new career or pro bono--or to serve their communities otherwise as volunteers.

The goal of the Second Season of Service website is to be a resource for lawyers and organizations about opportunities, issues, and benefits for retiring lawyers and lawyers who are transitioning their practices.

Why did the American Bar Association create the Second Season of Service Commission?

Over the next decade, as many as 40,000 lawyers a year will retire, consider retiring, or significantly alter their work environment. This generation of lawyers is redefining retirement from a time of leisure to a time of renewed vigor and purpose. The profession still needs these lawyers' talent and experience in the years to come, and many of them want to spend more time serving their communities. The American Bar Association Second Season of Service initiative will support these lawyers as they transition to the next stage of their lives by keeping them engaged with the profession and connecting them with public service opportunities. On average, senior lawyers contribute nearly 80 volunteer-hours every year; if retired and quasi-retired lawyers continue to donate their time and energies in like fashion, the Second Season of Service initiative can hope to tap into nearly 3 million additional volunteer-hours each year.

What kind of volunteer opportunities can I find through the ABA Second Season of Service initiative? Are there opportunities other than providing pro bono legal assistance?

Through the Volunteer Opportunities search page, http://www.abanet.org/secondseason/ssssearch.html, you can find a range of volunteer opportunities that include pro bono legal assistance and other types of volunteer public service, including non-law related volunteer services. The search tool can help you find opportunities that match your interests and needs. You can specify criteria that are important to you-such as , the type of work you would like to do, and the location in which you would like to volunteer-and the search tool will provide you with information about corresponding opportunities.

I have not done volunteer work before. Am I going to be of any help?

Yes. You are not alone, and most volunteers begin as 'novices' (even with years of highly developed substantive experience). Many of the organizations included in the ABA Second Season of Service volunteer network have well-developed orientation and training processes for new volunteers, designed to help you feel comfortable and become productive. You should contact these organizations directly to learn more about their specific orientation efforts.

If I move, will I be able to devote my energies to law-related matters in a new state?

The American Bar Association recently adopted policy in support of limited practice rules that would allow qualified, retired or otherwise inactive lawyers to provide pro bono legal services under the auspices of qualified legal services or other non-profit programs. The ABA Second Season of Service initiative is working to have such limited practice rules enacted in jurisdictions across the country. If you would like to help get such limited practice rules adopted in your jurisdiction, contact Holly Robinson at robinsoh@staff.abanet.org. To see whether your jurisdiction already has such limited practice rules in place, go to http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/emeritus.html.

I am able to travel more, and would like to spend my time helping nascent legal systems in developing countries. Where can I go for more information?

For more than 16 years the ABA has trained and mentored experienced lawyers and judges to partake in international legal development work. Through the ABA Rule of Law Initiative and the ABA International Legal Resource Center (a project of the International Law Section), the ABA has placed hundreds of legal professionals in dozens of countries around the world, affording them a unique opportunity to assist in the development of legal systems and experience other cultures. You can register your interest in volunteering for these programs at http://www.abanet.org/rol/opportunities/applywithus.shtml

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I want to do something completely unrelated to my law degree, but is there training available for other lines of work?

Several of the volunteer organizations with which the Second Season of Service initiative has interconnections serve non-law-related needs in the community, such as helping the elderly and young students with reading, building affordable housing, and assisting with hurricane reconstruction. Many of these organizations have well-developed orientation and training processes for new volunteers designed to help you feel comfortable and productive. You should contact these organizations directly to learn more about their specific orientation efforts.

Does it cost me anything to use the Second Season of Service website?

Online information obtained from the Second Season of Service website is free of cost.

Are there any pre-requisites or minimum requirements that I must meet to volunteer for any of the programs in the ABA Second Season of Service website?

There are no pre-requisites for finding volunteer opportunities through the ABA Second Season of Service website, but individual opportunities on the network may have certain requirements. When you find an opportunity that interests you, be sure to ask the organization about any pre-requisites for volunteering. Some of the supporting services (e.g., insurance coverage) referenced in this website may be available only to ABA members.

If I find a promising volunteer opportunity through the ABA Second Season of Service website, whom do I contact to offer my assistance?

You should contact organizations included in the ABA Second Season of Service website directly about opportunities they have available. Organizations' contact information is part of the description of opportunities found on this website.

Are there short-term or flexible commitment opportunities to help?

Yes. The ABA Second Season of Service website provides connections to long-term and short-term volunteer opportunities.

I've found many opportunities and organizations through the Second Season of Service website. Has the ABA researched all of them to make sure they are legitimate?

ABA policy prevents endorsement of any organization that is listed in the Second Season of Service website. We strongly advise volunteers to ask for information before making a volunteer commitment. In particular the ABA encourages you to review an organization's annual financial report and its program report or program information. In general, however, we have listed organizations in which members of the Second Season of Service Commission have confidence. We would appreciate your feedback about your experience with opportunities found on the website (positive or negative) at secondseasoninfo@abanet.org.

Are state and local bars involved with Second Season of Service? If not, how can I get my state or local bar involved?

The Second Season of Service Commission recognizes that most effective volunteer activities are planned and executed at the local level and that state and local bar organizations have the critical role to play in matching local volunteers with local needs. The Commission is working with the National Association of Bar Executives and the National Conference of Bar Presidents to increase awareness of the need for volunteers and of the increasing availability of lawyer-volunteers. The Commission, NABE and NCBP also are working together to identify organizations to which the Commission might effectively refer volunteers. If your local bar is not already engaged with the Second Season of Service initiative, send them our URL (www.abanet.org/secondseason) and ask that they contact us.

How can I determine whether the pro bono opportunities in the Second Season of Service website will satisfy the pro bono requirements of my employer or state?

The ABA's Standing Committee on Pro Bono & Public Service has compiled a series of resources on the various state rules regarding pro bono objectives, CLE requirements, and provision of legal services by 'emeritus' lawyers. Learn more at http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/probono/policies-rules.html.

I don't want to volunteer alone. Can I recruit other lawyers to volunteer with me?

You certainly may recruit other lawyers to volunteer with you so long as the organization in which you are volunteering agrees to receive their help.

I have been volunteering at a certain organization that I know could use additional help. Can I make this organization part of the Second Season of Service website?

Organizations may submit information about what they do and the volunteer opportunities they have available to the National Volunteer Opportunities Guide by going to either: www.volunteerforprobono.org or www.probono.net/oppsguide/ and clicking on the “Add an Organization” link at the upper right of each page. This is not automatic, since either a state editor or a national editor will have to examine the submitted information before it is added to the Guide. But once it is accepted, it will appear in the feed of volunteer opportunities on the Second Season search page.

If I provide pro bono legal assistance to an organization through the Second Season of Service initiative, is liability insurance available?

Possibly, but not through the ABA. Most established pro bono programs carry malpractice insurance that covers volunteer attorneys, when they or their employers do not have separate insurance coverage. Other public service organizations-especially those that do not focus on the provision of legal services-may not have legal malpractice insurance coverage. You should ask the program in which you are interested about the available coverage and applicable limits, restrictions, conditions or exclusions.

If I volunteer with an organization through the ABA Second Season of Service, will I be reimbursed for parking and other out-of-pocket expenses?

Not by the ABA, but it is possible that the volunteer organizations through which you provide volunteer services may have available various reimbursement facilities.

Does it cost anything to be listed in the Second Season of Service Volunteer Opportunity search page?

No. Posting information about your organization and volunteer opportunities you have available is cost free.

Do you have a list of lawyers who are available to volunteer through the Second Season of Service initiative that describes their interests, expertise, availability and location?

No. The ABA Second Season of Service website is a resource for lawyers seeking information about volunteer opportunities that match their interests.

Do you have background information on the lawyers who will be volunteering through the Second Season of Service initiative or do you screen potential volunteers?

No. The ABA Second Season of Service website is a resource for lawyers seeking information about volunteer opportunities that match their interests.

What is required of my organization to be included in the ABA Second Season of Service website?

The ABA Second Season of Service Commission is trying to streamline the 'search' process used by lawyers who are looking for appropriate volunteer opportunities. Rather than seeking to list all possible volunteer organizations on our website, we instead are seeking to list only a relatively small number of organizations that have broad geographic and substantive scope, an established track record, and with which we can effectively interconnect our networks.

If a lawyer provides pro bono legal assistance for my organization through the ABA Second Season of Service initiative, who is responsible for liability?

Some lawyers have liability insurance, but lawyers and volunteer organizations should come to an agreement about liability issues before a lawyer begins providing pro bono legal assistance or other volunteer aid. While the ABA offers various insurance products to its members, it does not provide liability indemnity for the activities of its members.

If I reduce my hours and lose my health insurance is there help?

Yes, there is help. First, as an ABA member you have access to the American Bar Endowment (ABE) sponsored Excess Major Medical Plan. This is a high deductible catastrophic medical plan that is not available to the general public. It is an excellent option if you are reducing your work hours and may lose your health insurance coverage. The plan is available to members under age 65. For more information about this plan, contact ABE at 800-621-8981 or go to www.abendowment.org.

In addition to the ABE sponsored Excess Major Medical Plan, American Bar Insurance Plan Consultants, Inc. (ABI) offers ABA members a medical insurance brokerage service, in which members can purchase individual medical plans for themselves and their families. ABI works with members to find individual plans offered in their states that best fits their needs. The medical plans are available to the general public but ABA members turn to ABI to provide the research and analysis needed to find the right plan for members. Fore more information, contact ABI at 866-445-5130 or go to www.abiins.com.

At retirement, do I need any malpractice insurance coverage with respect to the professional services I rendered prior to my retirement?

The answer is, absolutely yes, in virtually all situations. If you are with a law firm, the law firm's malpractice coverage may provide coverage for your activities prior to your retirement. The language of the policy should be reviewed carefully. A significant number of malpractice insurance policies do not provide coverage after the policy has expired. If you retire and are not covered by your firm's or your malpractice insurance presently, you may have personal liability for any malpractice claims and no insurance coverage unless you obtain extended reporting liability coverage (commonly known as "tail coverage"). Many state bar associations have created or caused to be created professional liability insurance programs and many of those provide "tail coverage." In addition, there are private malpractice insurance carriers who provide tail coverage. The Second Season resources page provides a document with a listing of the states which provide tail coverage as well as those carriers.