Page 6 - Miami Vol 7 No 2

Pro Bono Advocacy:
An Experience for Everyone
WBY ALEXIS FIELDS, ESQ
hen I rst entered law school, I had the same lo y goals that a lot of people have when starting a career in the legal profession. I was going to help people and make a di erence! e naivete of aspiration quickly set in, and I learned that,
while a law degree would allow me to do what I wanted to do, I would not be able to do it for a living.
I began my career working at a rm that helped distressed homeowners during the height of the nancial crisis. Although that work should have felt intrinsically rewarding, the fact that I was working at a law rm that had to be pro table made the process feel like a business transaction, rather than a service. From then on, my practice has expanded to include representation
of corporations and individuals in various capacitie“
Regardless, I have always been drawn toward service, above and beyond representation.
Two years ago, I became active Words cannot in the pro bono committee of
the appellate practice section of describe the the Florida Bar. rough that
committee, I have helped a parent
in a family law appeal and have
defended the interest of children in
numerous appeals centered on the
termination of parental rights. In this
capacity, the crux of my involvement
has been to represent people who
would otherwise have no means to
represent themselves and would have
no access to the court system. e
lives of those who struggle under the
weight of a dysfunctional household are important and I feel privileged to be able to play a part in attempting to ensure that the child is, at the very least, represented when decisions about their childhood and upbringing are being made for them.
I found Legal Services of Greater Miami through the pro bono committee, as well. Words cannot describe the satisfaction I have with working with this organization, both from the high-level praTctice of the lawyers I encountered as well as with the ful llment of knowing we are ghting for a good cause. Unlike a lot of the business or civil litigation I have worked on in the past, the kinds of cases Legal Services work on can’t be reductively described as squabbling over attorneys’ fees. Don’t get me wrong, I am always happy when I achieve a favorable result for all
genuine love for what they do. Florida Bar Rule 4-6.1 suggests that every attorney should strive to individually satisfy the member’s professional responsibility to provide pro bono legal service to the poor, either through an aspirational goal of 20 hours annually in pro bono service or $350 in contributions to legal aid organizations. While donating time to an individual client or donating money to an organization technically ful lls a professional moral obligation, it can’t compare to volunteering to work alongside the amazing attorneys who have made pro bono services their career. Working directly with these legal aid organizations provides an unparalleled experience, both professionally and personally. I am honored and truly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had working with Legal Services of Greater Miami and the pro bono committee of the appellate practice section of the Florida Bar. I wish and hope everyone will allow themselves the same experience
at least once in their careers.
ALEXIS FIELDS IS A PARTNER AT KOPELOWITZ OSTROW. ALEXIS FOCUSES HER PRACTICE ON APPELLATE LAW AND COMMERCIAL LITIGATION. SHE PERFORMS PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES FOR A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE DEFENDING BEST INTEREST PROJECT, A PRO BONO APPELLATE PROGRAM ADMINIS- TERED BY THE STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM.
my clients. But there is a special thrill when you are able to achieve a favorable result for individuals who would otherwise have been bere of relief had you not stepped in.
I am continually spurred on by the people who make this sort of service their careers’ endeavor. Pro bono organizations and the legal services community, terminally underfunded though they may be, continue to nd a way to provide support, counsel, and advocacy to those who would otherwise be forgotten by society. e sel essness and sense of duty toward others displayed by organizations such as Legal Services of Greater Miami is an example of who we should be and how we should act. Not only is their dedication impressive, but the level of excellence at which
s. I’ve found these attorneys to practice on an everyday basis is a true inspiration; it is what every attorney should strive for. Undoubtedly, this rst-rate advocacy is informed by their passion and
satisfaction I have with working with this organization, both from the high-level practice of the lawyers”
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MIAMI · VOL. 7 NO. 2 6