Law Firms Switch Idle Lawyers to Pro Bono Work

There is at least one benefit to the economic downturn: More lawyers are volunteering for pro bono work.

Several law firms have switched lawyers experiencing idle time to pro bono work, the American Lawyer reports. The magazine says these law firms are among those making a change:

• Dechert, which has moved seven associates to full-time pro bono work because of a slowdown in structured finance.

• Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft, which has increased pro bono hours.

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where pro bono hours have risen to 85 hours per lawyer through September, compared to 69 hours per lawyer last year.

• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where new associates have more free time than usual to devote to pro bono.

ABA President-elect Carolyn Lamm has endorsed the idea of creating more pro bono work for lawyers who would otherwise be laid off. Speaking in December at an Access to Civil Justice Symposium sponsored by the association, she said law firms could assign lawyers targeted for layoffs to handle civil cases for low-income clients.