“It’s really important for lawyers to do pro bono work. We’re particularly privileged to be able to defend ourselves and others in a way that some people and organizations can’t.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there and pro bono is about helping people understand the information and the law and how it applies and helping them make informed decisions. When a person or organization doesn’t have the resources to do that, I think lawyers have a duty, to the extent that they can, to try to help.” – Charlotte Petilla, Attorney, Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP
When a small, Boston-area nonprofit with a focus on food insecurity needed a pro bono attorney to assist with updating its employee leave policy, a member of the board of directors reached out to Lawyers Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse quickly paired the organization with Charlotte Petilla, an employment law attorney from Hirsch Roberts Weinstein.
The nonprofit already had a leave policy in place, but the board wanted to add an additional clause that would better enable employees with challenging circumstances to take time off. They also wanted to ensure the policy was fair while taking into account the many legal considerations involved. Employment laws are constantly changing and are not often black and white, so it’s crucial that steps be taken to maintain compliance with existing requirements.
Charlotte worked with the board of directors both in person and by phone to draft a comprehensive policy that was legally compliant and provided employees with a number of practical leave options.
The nonprofit board and employees are happy to have a formal policy that they feel covers all legal bases and makes employees feel supported, and they plan to continue receiving occasional counsel on other employment matters from Hirsch Roberts Weinstein moving forward.
“I wish we had contacted the Lawyers Clearinghouse much sooner. With the help of the Internet, we went down a few dead ends before getting the legal advice that helped us move forward in a much more strategic fashion. There is simply no substitute for advice from people who know the law and deal with these issues on a daily basis. Lesson learned.” – Vice President of the Board, Nonprofit Client
