By Morley Witus
DMBA President
The facts:
* Over three million people in Michigan qualify for free legal aid because of their poverty level.
* Due to lack of resources, however, nonprofit legal aid programs have to turn away a majority of eligible clients.
* There is just one legal aid lawyer for every 17,000 eligible low-income clients in Michigan.
That's where pro bono comes in -- to help bridge the gulf between the ideal of equal justice for all, and the reality of millions of citizens without the means to obtain legal help.
The Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Board of Directors took action at its August 12 meeting. The Board passed a resolution pledging that each director would personally take on a pro bono legal matter before National Pro Bono Week, October 24-30. This commitment was made in recognition of the economic downturn that has increased the need (due to foreclosures, layoffs, etc.). The commitment was made despite the fact that our directors lead busy professional lives, and already make monetary contributions to the Access to Justice Fund to support legal aid programs. But the Board thought it important, especially at this time, to roll up our sleeves and directly contribute our legal services as well.
The DMBA Board also decided to challenge the boards of other bar associations in Michigan to join us in taking the pro bono pledge. Who knows, there might be a chain reaction.
In any event, I am thankful that our Board took this step and I hope others will follow suit. As the Michigan State Bar aptly put it: "Now more than ever, pro bono is more than just the right thing to do."
Morley Witus is a member of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker PLLC in Detroit where he concentrates in commercial litigation. In addition to being presidentof the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, he is Director of Training for the ICLE's Litigation Boot Camp. He previously served as President of the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County and Chair of the State Bar Civil Procedure Committee.
Published: Tue, Sep 21, 2010
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