Written by Taylor Reed, RBI Graduate Intern
February 22, 2015
Pro bono service is a common practice for attorneys, however, one Idaho law firm has gone a step further to elevate their commitment to free legal services. This Idaho firm encourages its attorneys to provide pro bono services and compensates them for this time commitment outside of billable service to private clients.
James Hawley began his private practice in 1893, and today that practice has grown and evolved into Hawley Troxell Attorneys and Counselors, Idaho’s largest and oldest business law firm. According to Susan Olson, Hawley Troxell’s Executive Director, tradition has always been important to the firm’s leadership. One tradition that has remained constant over time has been Hawley Troxell’s commitment to and involvement in the Idaho community.
Hawley Troxell was one of the first private firms in Idaho to compensate its attorneys for representing pro bono clients. Hawley Troxell concluded that this service is so valuable that the firm implemented a firm policy that encourages and supports all of its attorneys to engage with people or organizations of limited means. Hawley Troxell considers up to 40 hours of pro bono service as attributable toward annual billable hours goals when reviewing its associate attorneys.
Hawley Troxell’s pro bono policy also allows attorneys to choose, with approval from the firm’s leadership, the cases they take on. This gives the attorneys the freedom and ability to support causes or organizations about which they’re passionate. This greater sense of community purpose can have a direct impact on things like employee morale and overall employee satisfaction.
Olson also noted that many pro bono cases result in attorneys working on issues outside of their standard practice areas in the firm, allowing attorneys to develop other meaningful skill sets. Last year, the firm’s attorneys logged a total of 1,310 hours of pro bono time, and worked on more than 32 pro bono cases, creating value for people and organizations across the state Idaho. Taking this one step further, Hawley Troxell also pays its employees – those who are not attorneys – up to 15 hours per year for volunteer service for time committed to non-profits throughout the state.
With a combination of tradition and innovation, Hawley Troxell has set a high bar for law firms across the state with their progressive approach to pro bono and community service. We recognize them as a responsible business in Idaho because they empower and engage their employees to create positive impact through the provision of quality legal service and general community volunteerism.