Editorial
Front Page - Friday, January 28, 2011
Pro Bono Star of the Month
Maeghan Jones
Rachel Fisher believes that corporate lawyers share a role in improving equal access to justice.
While she focuses her practice on business law, Fisher frequently steps out of her comfort zone to represent pro bono clients.
Fisher explains, “Since I began volunteering with Legal of East Tennessee, I have assisted low-income clients with a wide variety of legal issues that fall outside my area of practice. I have assisted local heroes obtain their veteran’s benefits, helped low-income clients resolve identity issues through name change, and advised clients on a host of domestic and ‘poverty law’ issues at Saturday Advice Clinics.”
Fisher’s commitment to equal access to justice grew out of her need to satisfy the hours required by the state of Florida to maintain her license.
“As a member of the Florida Bar, I am required under Rule 4-6.1 to provide at least 20 hours of pro bono legal service to the poor or make a minimum contribution of $350 to a legal organization. However, it wasn’t until I worked with the Charleston School of Law Pro Bono Program, that I began to understand how access to legal services truly affects the poor,” explains Fisher.
The Charleston School of Law located in Charleston, S.C., pressed its faculty and staff to assist law students with obtaining the 30 hours of pro bono service required for graduation. Fisher worked with law students to resolve legal issues facing Charleston’s poor in weekly clinics.
“Through this experience, I witnessed firsthand the critical need for legal representation among indigent clients. While assisting those law students, I found that the legal problems of the poor often involve areas of basic need and their inability to obtain legal services can have dire consequences for them and their families,” says Fisher.
After returning home to Chattanooga, Fisher is grateful to work for a firm that supports her commitment to pro bono service.
“I am fortunate to work with Scenic City Legal Group, PC, a firm that supports representing not only persons of limited means, but also charitable and religious organizations.”
Even with the support of her firm, it can still be difficult to fit pro bono cases into an already hectic caseload. Fisher appreciates her pro bono clients’ willingness to accommodate her busy schedule.
“I have appreciated the patience and understanding of these pro bono clients that I will be working on their cases “after hours”, allowing me to return their phone calls or meet with them after the close of business. Their patience allows me to meet the needs of our firm’s clients while also providing legal representation to members of my community who cannot fight a legal battle on their own,” Fisher says.
Fisher is a member of Legal Aid of East Tennessee’s 50/50 plan. Lawyers who choose to participate in the plan commit to provide 50 hours of pro bono service annually and contribute $50 per month to support the provision of free legal services to the poor.
For Fisher, “it’s simply doing my part as a member of a profession that embraces equal access to our nation’s courts, and she encourages other local attorneys who are looking to make a meaningful New Year’s resolution “to consider simply giving up your lunch hour once a week in 2011 and donate 52 hours to build a better society for Chattanooga by ensuring all of our citizens’ legal rights are respected.”
Rachel Fisher is a member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Christian Legal Society, Chatta-nooga Bar Association, Junior League of Chattanooga, Kiwanis and Leadership Chattanooga, 2010 Class. Fisher is an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a published author.
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