What are the rewards of pro bono service for the firms attorneys and the firm overall?
Harshbarger : There is a very strong business case to be made. A strong pro bono program is vital to recruitment, as I have indicated, but it is also essential for training associates and for maintaining their morale over the long term. Within the firm, we include pro bono in the associate and partner review process, and we recognize singular achievements now through our annual Golden Gavel and Book Awards. For everyone connected with it, pro bono work provides great satisfaction in the midst of a very demanding professional life. In difficult economic times, there is always a concern about the bottom line. The message that we have been entrusted to convey, to the firm and to the world at large, is that this work serves to sustain the firm, enhance its reputation and standing among the communities in which it lives and the clients it serves, and, finally, that it is the right thing to do.
