When Aaron Young was still in law school, he realized manypeople did not have financial access to the legal help theyneeded.

“I felt it was ridiculous that attorneys out there in the realworld found it okay to charge $250, $350, $400 an hour to getsomeone a divorce,” Young said.

“I made a commitment that, yes, I have to be economicallyindependent and earn a living. But I still want to give a certainamount back. When I got out [of school] I made it my goal tomaintain that focus.”

Today Young is in-house counsel for American Airlines FederalCredit Union in Fort Worth, Texas, and harnesses his desire to helpothers by making it a goal to do 50 to 60 hours a year of pro bonowork.

One way Young helps is through the Kern County Bar Association,which sponsors a phone bank called LegalLine. On the second andthird Wednesday of each month, attorneys staff the phones andanswer such questions as, “Do I have to probate my mother'swill?”

Recently, Young has also become involved in more case-specificwork through the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWestTexas, organizations that strive to make it as easy as possible forattorneys to identify cases that need pro bono help.

“There was a divorce case yesterday,” Young said. “It's anuncontested divorce and they're already agreed to a mutual order asto how they're going to share their child and other details.

“It's just a matter of providing the necessary forms and walkingthem through the process. All I have to do is handhold the client,take them to court, ask them the relevant questions and prove tothe judge they've met residency and other requirements.”

Many employees today are shouldering bigger workloads andstriving to accomplish more in limited time. Is it difficult tofind time for pro bono work?

“It's like all things in life-if it's a priority for you, youfind time for it,” Young said. “My wife and I have arranged aschedule where it's known that on the second and fourth WednesdayI'm on LegalLine. I won't be there for dinner. I'll be homelate.”

“I feel I really owe the community something and that's onething I can do. We can't always write a check whenever we want to,but we can give time. Everybody has time. You just set a goal. Thetoughest struggle is to initially set that goal. If you don't makeit, at least you tried.”

Some attorneys may shy away from pro bono work because theyworry clients will expect more than they should. But Young hasfound that his clients appreciate his efforts.

He said he believes the credit union also benefits from his probono work, at least indirectly. A pro bono client may not beeligible for AAFCU membership, but Young is more engaged andpleased with the fact his job allows him to do such work. If youwant to encourage your in-house counsel to do pro bono work, headvised, simply tell them you expect it.

Young explained that attorneys can handle a wide range of cases.He said he can work outside his usual area of expertise as long ashe prepares adequately. For example, for the divorce case, hereviewed the state's family law statutes.

Don Fenstermacher at New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Unionis another in-house attorney who handles pro bono work. He saidthat in addition to his personal interest in helping people, boththe state and local bar associations encourage it.

Fenstermacher estimated he puts in about 50 pro bono hours ayear, which is in line with the goals of the state barassociation.

“A lot of people think pro bono work means taking on a case andlitigating it through,” he said. “The kind of work I'm able to doinvolves providing insight and assistance with a piece of aproblem.”

Fenstermacher often offers his services at legal fairs, wherepeople with legal issues can sit down with a lawyer for 10 to 30minutes, describe their situation and get advice. He also tries toassist other lawyers doing pro bono work by helping them understandthe financial world, bankruptcy or creditors' rights.

It can be difficult to find time for pro bono work, but anattorney can still make a meaningful difference in a person's lifewith a relatively brief interaction, he said. Often it's as simpleas relieving a client's anxiety by defining the problem. The clientthen understands his or her rights and where to go for the nextstep. “In a limited conversation I can help them substantiallywithout filing a case and taking them on as a long-term client,” hesaid.

Fenstermacher said he can't take on long-term pro bono clientsbecause as an in-house attorney he doesn't have malpracticeinsurance. And because NMEFCU is the largest credit union bymembership in the state, he always makes sure to ask potentialclients whether they owe the credit union money in order to avoidwalking into a conflict of interest.

Does the credit union benefit from his pro bono work?Fenstermacher thinks so. He said he tries not to self-promote, butpeople know who he is and that he is employed by the credit union.He's seen as out in the community with other lawyers who aredonating their time.

“It's part of the legal profession, part of informing yourself,”he said.

–[email protected]