Former public defender returns to helping the underserved

With no pro bono coordinator and few staffed attorneys, small firms are at a disadvantage when it comes to finding time and resources to take pro bono cases. That did not stop former public defender turned private attorney, John Cloherty. He contacted Lawyers Clearinghouse because he wanted to get back to serving the public.

“You go to law school to better yourself and change the world,” said Cloherty, Managing Partner at Pierce, Davis & Perritano LLP. Although years out of law school and well into his career, John said he misses the kind of work he did as a public defender in Rhode Island.

“Everybody has a right to an attorney—a right to be heard,” he said.

Since calling up Executive Director Maribeth Perry to ask if she had any pro bono opportunities for him, John has won both of the cases he took for homeless clients. Most recently, he helped a homeless woman win unemployment benefits after she was wrongfully terminated from work.

Although Lawyers Clearinghouse partners with several larger law firms that send multiple attorneys to bi-weekly clinics for the homeless, John offers something big firms cannot. “Sometimes the law firms that staff the clinic cannot take a case, typically due to a conflict of interest,” said Perry.  Cloherty’s background in in civil litigation, employment discrimination, and criminal defense makes him an asset to clients of the Massachusetts Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

Speaking about the nature of his latest case, he said his client represented a minority among the homeless population since she was employed. Losing her job was “particularly devastating” and he was happy to help her earn the unemployment benefits she deserved. He hopes other small firm attorneys will also consider pro bono work.

“I would encourage small firm attorneys to be proactive. Pro bono opportunities are not going to just come across your desk,” John said.

The Clearinghouse would welcome the participation of more volunteers like Cloherty.  According to Perry, John has been a wonderful resource to ensure that homeless clients are able to get the legal help they so desperately need.  The Lawyers Clearinghouse is truly grateful for the hours he has dedicated to helping the homeless.

by Holly Hartung, Lawyers Clearinghouse