"I think when you break it down like that it sounds very achievable," said Shapiro, who practices law at the Shapiro Law Offices, located in Middletown and Stamford.
Now the group just has to generate enough interest in the pledge initiative to make the goal achievable.
That's where other active members of the Young Lawyers Section come in. For instance, Sylvia K. Rutkowska, public service and special projects director for the section, has been spreading the word to law firms in hopes of getting their pledges.
Many of Connecticut's leading firms, both small and large, are starting to pledge hours towards the initiative. Some of the very first firms to sign on include Pullman & Comley, Robinson & Cole, Day Pitney, Reid & Reige, LeClair Ryan, and McCarter & English.
So far, Rutkowska said the group has gotten 1,775 hours of pledged pro bono work.
"I'm encouraged by the good start and we hope people continue to pledge," Rutkowska said.
Also, Rutkowska, who practices law at Dzialo, Pickett & Allen in Middletown, has been in contact with various legal aid groups across the state about different opportunities that will be available for the volunteer lawyers.
At the pro bono fair earlier this month, Rutkowska said there were 16 different organizations present seeking help. She said the opportunities ran the gamut from working with children's groups, to helping veterans, and homeless people.
She's also been in contact with Statewide Legal Services about opportunities and additional training.
Rutkowska explained that there will be four options of varying time commitments with Statewide Legal Services alone. For example, one choice is the traditional direct representation, where a lawyer would handle an indigent person's case, maybe a divorce or child custody proceeding or housing dispute, from beginning to end.
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