Counsel to Counsel - November 2008 - (Page 21) ©Habitat for Humanity/Steffan Hacker Blantyre, Malawi ©Habitat for Humanity/Steffan Hacker ©Habitat for Humanity/Kim MacDonald Bay St. Louis, Mississippi (Gulf Coast, United States) Cantel, Guatemala “This is a very generous contribution,” Blake says, but the Ford & Harrison attorneys insist the value is a two-way proposition. In addition to the experience she has personally gained, Fuson says the program is a selling point for prospective associates, as a demonstration of the firm’s commitment to both pro bono work and complete associate training. And the firm has an effective way to groom its next generation of partners. “Managing clients is something all lawyers have to learn, but it’s hard to do,” Harrison says. “But if you’re open to change, it’s amazing how much stuff you can stumble onto.” Blake, for her part, places the credit for the program’s success squarely with Harrison and the commitment of the firm. “One of the most important parts of this partnership is that even though this work is pro bono, we’re not treated as secondclass citizens,” she says. “We get first-rate, responsive, thoughtful legal advice. Projects are done when we need them. Although we may be dealing with associates, we have the full resources of an outstanding law firm available to support our legal needs. The expertise is unparalleled, and the responsiveness is the same as we would get from a law firm we were paying. That’s hard to come by. It’s not that law firms don’t consider being generous, but staffing the work with really good lawyers and treating you as if you were paying doesn’t always happen. “I would recommend this as a model for other NGOs to think about. We are blessed to have other wonderful pro bono providers. But we don’t have this kind of ongoing institutional work that we can make available across the country in the same way Lash has made this available.” partnership at a glance Ford & Harrison LLP Since 1978, Ford & Harrison has built a national labor and employment practice. With close to 200 lawyers in 18 offices across the country, the firm services all aspects of labor and employment law, including litigation, collective bargaining, immigration and employee benefits. It is now among the largest labor and employment law firms in the country. “One of the most important parts of this partnership is that even though this work is pro bono, we’re not treated as second-class citizens.” That’s insight she knows she can build on as her career develops. Fuson usually works in the firm’s airline group, focusing on labor arbitration that is mandated by federal statutes. She expects the lessons she’s learned from her pro bono client to apply to her airline work as well. “We have some very sophisticated airline clients,” she says. “Getting this early experience with leadership and direct client relationships can only benefit me going forward as I work with the clients I hope to be dealing with for the rest of my career.” C. Lash Harrison has represented management in all aspects of labor and employment law for more than 40 years. He has served as managing partner of Ford & Harrison since the firm’s inception and is Peer Review Rated. Contact Lash at lharrison@fordharrison.com. Sarah Fuson is an associate in Ford & Harrison’s Atlanta office where she is responsible for the Habitat for Humanity International client relationship. She also practices in the firm’s airline group. Contact Sarah at sfuson@fordharrison.com. First-Rate Service Since the partnership’s inception in August 2007, 35 Ford & Harrison lawyers have rendered pro bono services to Habitat for Humanity worth almost $300,000. www.martindale.com/c2c November 2008 21 http://www.martindale.com/c2c
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