I hope you can join me and 200 other guests in recognizing this important milestone in the history of legal services for the poor in Boston. There is no charge for this event. Three out of five persons who are eligible for legal services in Massachusetts currently are turned away due to lack of resources. This is a chance to meet legislators and participate in the shaping of the state budget. You will be escorted to various legislators' offices, to be counted as a strong supporter of civil legal services funding.
Many transactional attorneys think that pro bono work is something only litigators can do.
The forum will be led off with a keynote speech by the Honorable Herbert P. Wilkins, former Chief Justice of the SJC and one of the architects of professional conduct rule 6.1 urging each lawyer to provide 25 hours of pro bono a year. Most important, following the panel discussion, you will be able to meet representatives of organizations offering pro bono work concerning children, elders, domestic violence, housing, consumers and the environment. Here is your chance to find out about the real personal and professional rewards of pro bono work, and how to begin. There is no charge for attendance at the Forum. We hope to see you on the 24th.