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Volunteer attorneys say clinics give clients access and sharpen lawyers’ skills
Summary
Volunteer attorney Felix Sharp and Legal Aid managing attorney Jennifer Perkins said pro bono clinics both protect clients in court and strengthen volunteers' legal skills; speakers pointed to partnerships with court clerks, employers and community groups.
Volunteer attorneys and Legal Aid staff described clinic work as mutually beneficial during a panel on expungement. Felix Sharp, who began volunteering after attending a training by then-Legal Aid staff Judge Josephine Buckner, said the work "makes you a better lawyer" and provides important courtroom advocacy that many clients need.
Jennifer Perkins emphasized that volunteer attorneys, paralegals and community partners — including Goodwill and supportive employers — are essential to running expungement clinics. Panelists said volunteers frequently handle early intake steps, help prepare paperwork and stand with clients at hearings, acting as a "shield" between the client and the court system. Sharp said the experience is humbling and rewarding, and that employer support for pro bono time helps sustain clinic capacity.
The panel highlighted training and coordination as keys to maintaining a reliable volunteer program and reducing avoidable procedural errors that sometimes derail cases.
