Audio By Carbonatix
Seems our posts about pro bono attorneyin’ in Dallas have some Friends of Unfair Park worked up. A medicine-practicing Friend of Unfair Park would like to answer attorney Bill Holston’s question, which was, “What other profession makes an organized effort to provide free services to the poor?” In short, says our Friend, doctors. In long, says our Friend:
“I’d like to respond: Um, medicine does. Here’s a link to the Dallas County Medical Society’s Indigent Clinic Forum. Not to mention the routine practice most physicians, including my group, have of comping patients who are going through tough times financially. Not to mention physicians who accept Medicaid and its distressingly low reimbursements. Not to mention routinely providing gratis service to uninsured babies born at private hospitals around town. And so on. See if you can picture my eyes rolling at the prospect of the poor lawyers and their ‘full schedules’ being unable to find the time to provide pro bono work… And 75 hours a year? Six hours a month? Woooooooooo. Awwwwwwesome.”
Says another Friend:
“If you want a good opinion on the want and need for pro bono in Dallas, best ask the judges who see the cases of those in need (JP’s, county court, bankruptcy judges), not those compelled by guilt and those young gelded by the guilt associated with the source of their legal-fee income to risk their aspiring station to take a leadership role that cares.”
Anyone else workin’ hard for free? Feel free (heh) to let us know. –Robert Wilonsky
