Does Blogging Help Fulfill Your Pro Bono Obligation

In my last post, I briefly touched on the fact that sharing your expertise online for free allows hundreds,  thousands, and even tens of thousands of people (at least in our case) to learn about their legal issue without having to hire an attorney.  As lawyers, we are supposed to provide some level of pro bono advice and representation.  Different lawyers view this obligation differently.  Some devote as much as 30 or 40% of their day helping others at no charge.  Other attorneys barely lift a finger beyond their hourly billing sheet. 

Attorneys need to understand that blogging is perhaps the easiest and most effective way to reach the most people, providing information and assistance which is invaluable to them in governing their behavior and making important decisions.  While the information included on blogs is not legal advice and certainly does not reach the level of “legal representation”,  it  performs an invaluable service to the scores of the people who simply need real information about a legal issue they are facing.

If you are looking for an easy and effective way to give back to society as an attorney, I would suggest that there is no easier way than using blog technology to share your unique experiences and expertise online.  It may be one of the most rewarding things you ever do as an attorney.