BigLaw and Pro Bono Work/Professional Activities

joste8
Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:26:53 +0000

I’m considering law school and possibly corporate law down the road. Had some questions about how pro bono work and other professional activities (i.e., participation in law organizations, adjunct teaching, publication) fit into the life of a BigLaw lawyer, whether junior associate or senior partner.

Do firms expect their lawyers to do some type of pro bono work, or is it solely up to the initiative of each individual? Are big firms generally supportive of pro bono work and other activities that benefit the profession (teaching, scholarship, mentoring, etc.), or is it up to the lawyer to somehow find the time outside of their regular hours to engage in these pursuits? Should associates (especially junior ones) even attempt to pursue these outside activities, or is it better to wait until they’ve reached more senior status with somewhat less demanding hours? Just wondering if simply sleeping less is the only way to make time for these worthwhile pursuits or if there’s another way…

Thanks in advance for any advice/experiences.