PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008 - (Page 27)

foURTHoUGHT TERRI moTTERSHEAD (Director of Professional Development, San Francisco) The pro bono program provides opportunities to acquire some of the training and on the job experience suggested by the firmwide and practice group benchmarks. The combination of these programs, however, also achieves something more and something unique. Pro bono also helps us share our knowledge and forge relationships in our communities, with our clients, and with each other. In time, as these programs integrate and combine with our in-house training and billable assignments, we will achieve a comprehensive framework within which to build and advance careers and entrench our culture of knowing who we are, what we can do, what we strive to be and, yes, that everything does matter! DAvID NACHmAN (New York, Chair of DLa Piper’s Career advancement Center) Pro bono presents a terrific opportunity to obtain significant work experiences at an earlier stage of one’s career than is often available with our paying clients. That’s nothing new. What is new—and what highlights the tremendous importance of pro bono going forward—is the clarity the Benchmarks Program brings to the table. Each of the practice groups has spelled out precisely the kinds of work experiences that associates should aim to acquire as they develop their careers. With these in hand, associates can now take stock and develop proactive strategies to use pro bono work to fill out their benchmark experiences. Certainly, the Pro Bono Partner and Counsel are alert to this synergy, and we hope that all of our associates will be as well. How does pro bono tie into the firm’s new benchmarking program? KIT RoTH (Seattle) It is no secret that associates at large law firms face formidable obstacles to gaining higher-level litigation experience, especially trial experience. We are also quite familiar with the mantra that taking on pro bono matters not only helps the community, but also provides opportunities to assume senior litigation responsibilities that we may not otherwise have as more junior lawyers. But the truth of this did not become vividly apparent until I filled out the benchmark worksheet and noticed that I had completed many of the benchmarks—cross-examining witnesses, arguing evidentiary hearings, writing trial briefs—only in pro bono cases. The benchmark program, as a tool for identifying the stepping stones of professional growth, highlights the essential role that pro bono opportunities play in our career development. HoLLy SPURLoCK (Chicago) Pro bono is the perfect avenue for accomplishing litigation benchmarks. as a litigator, the benchmarks include participating and taking the lead in many aspects of litigation. In most large litigation matters, junior associates do not have a significant or independent role in these crucial benchmarks. In pro bono cases, junior associates often take the lead in all litigation-related projects. I recently supervised several junior associates and summer associates in a relatively small pro bono matter. Through our representation, associates were able to accomplish several benchmarks, including drafting a complaint, drafting and responding to discovery, preparing for and participating in depositions and hearings and negotiating a settlement. Pro bono is important and satisfying for many reasons, and gaining litigation experience is definitely one of them. foUR ANSWERS To oNE QUESTIoN WINTER 2008 | 27

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008

PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008 Contents Cover Story: Digging Deep: DLA Piper’s Signature Project Model CSR Report Feature Story: DLA Piper Assists with German Ghetto Work Payment Program Clinics National News Mapping Impact An Interview With Jeff Coopersmith FourThought New Perimeter Update Awards and Recognition

PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008

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