Community Service: Make It Matter – Now More Than Ever
In the years since I first wrote about the importance of community service for law firms, the world has seen its share of challenges—natural disasters, public health crises, social unrest, and economic hardship. In those moments, many lawyers have stepped up, offering pro bono counsel, raising funds, and volunteering time to help their communities heal and rebuild.
But here’s the truth: community service doesn’t have to be reactive. In fact, the strongest and most respected law firms make service a proactive, ongoing part of their culture—not something reserved only for times of tragedy.
For solo and mid-sized firms, embedding community service into the fabric of your operations isn't just good citizenship; it’s smart business. It strengthens your reputation, builds authentic relationships, and reinforces the purpose-driven nature of the work we do as legal professionals.
Why Service Still Matters
Clients today are looking for more than legal expertise. They want to know who you are and what you stand for. They want to support businesses, yes, even law firms that invest in the communities where they live and work.
Whether you’re sponsoring a local youth sports team, volunteering with a nonprofit, offering free legal clinics, or supporting education initiatives, your involvement says something powerful about your firm’s values. It signals integrity, leadership, and compassion which are all qualities clients want in their lawyer.
Moving from Reaction to Intention
It’s easy to respond when the need is obvious and urgent. But the most meaningful service stems from intentionality, choosing causes that align with your firm’s values, committing resources consistently, and viewing service as part of your long-term strategy rather than a short-term PR opportunity.
Ask yourself:
What causes matter most to our firm and our people?
Where can we make a real impact with our time, talent, or resources?
How can we involve the entire team so service becomes part of our culture, not just leadership’s initiative?
Ideas for Small to Mid-Sized Firms
You don’t need a large staff or a big budget to make service a priority. Here are a few simple but impactful ways to start:
Establish a Volunteer Day where team members are encouraged to give back during work hours.
Partner with Local Organizations on projects that align with your practice areas or personal interests.
Offer Pro Bono Work strategically, supporting causes that resonate with your firm’s mission.
Create a Community Service Committee within your firm to generate ideas and keep momentum going.
Sponsor Local Events that matter to your community—arts, education, small business development.
Make it Matter – Every Day
The real impact of community service isn’t measured in press releases or photo ops. It’s measured in trust built, relationships deepened, and communities strengthened. For law firms, service is an extension of advocacy—a way of standing alongside the people and places we serve, outside the courtroom and beyond the boardroom.
If you want to build a firm known not just for what you do, but for how you show up in the world, make community service part of who you are—not just what you do when tragedy strikes.
Because at the end of the day, what you give to your community comes back in ways far more meaningful than you might expect.