Every year I hear rumblings from non-profiit organizations and bar associations about more attorneys being needed to perform pro bono work, yet I have attempted numerous times in the past to offer my services to various organizations only to be rejected because I don't have big firm resources to support me. Now there are plenty of organizations that genuinely want to help people and will take all the volunteer help they can get, and I have great respect for them, but I believe a few of these organizations exist for selfish reasons alone...
Last night I attended a pro bono fair designed to connect attorneys who want to volunteer with agencies that need volunteers, and while the bulk of the attorneys there were very nice, I had the misfortune of encountering one of the rudest people I have ever met in my life. I actually have vast experience in the practice area and a background that would make me an asset to the organization she represented, but she wouldn't know this because she didn't bother to ask me anything about my background before she told me to look elsewhere. She was not polite about it either. While her organization represents a community for which I care deeply, I do not have the financial resources necessary to volunteer with her organization, and my time is apparently of no value. I wanted to argue more with her, but while I want to help and have a lot to offer, I'm not going to beg to work for free.
I have come to the conclusion that most attorneys are like me and have a desire to help people, and the bulk of complaints about us not being willing to give back are garbage. I feel terrible for the people who need help and aren't receiving it because of the arrogance of individuals working at these supposedly altruistic organizations. They give attorneys a bad name.
