Volunteerism is fundamental to the ethical practice of law

Letters to the Editor

Volunteerism is fundamental to the ethical practice of law Monday, January 17, 2005 C. Lyonel Jones Cleveland It was disheartening to learn that most law students skip volunteer work (Plain Dealer, Jan. 8). Equally disheartening was the "good news" that three-fourths of all law students believe their schools emphasized the ethical practice of law.

In the profession of law, volunteering and ethics go hand in hand. Ohio lawyers subscribe to the Code of Professional Responsibility. This ethical code states: "Every lawyer, regardless of professional prominence or professional workload, should find time to participate in serving the disadvantaged."

Lack of interest in volunteer work among law students concerns us; we certainly need all the volunteers we can get.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland provides high-quality free legal assistance to low-income individuals. Volunteer attorneys are an important component of our service-delivery model. They supplement the work of full- time Legal Aid attorneys and provide a valuable service to their community.

From: C. Lyonel Jones, Cleveland

Jones is director of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

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