Community Engagement
Good lawyers must possess more than legal knowledge and skills. They must possess a particular mindset about the people they represent, the communities they serve, and the system within which they work. Scroll down the page to learn more about the Barristers Society’s community engagement guidelines.
Effective lawyers must empower those they represent to achieve their stated objectives through their legal representation. This requires an understanding of the context of our client's situations and an appreciation of the barriers to justice. A community of committed, values-driven lawyers, engaging both within and outside the system, must be a part of the broader movement for social justice.
As lawyers, we have positioned ourselves to either help those in need of access to justice, or through complacency, we contribute to an unequal system that increasingly promotes racial and economic inequities in America. As lawyers, we must recognize that we have an obligation to be part of the solution for our communities. We have an obligation to work with these communities to ensure their voices are heard; their dignity is respected, and their access to justice is unfettered.
Pro Bono
As part of our effort to support and engage in the communities we represent, The Barristers Society will engage in selected pro bono representation by providing free legal advice and representation from our members, who will also seek to use pro bono opportunities as a training tool.