Y L D
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
M E S S A G E
Ja s o n Wh i t t e mo re – Wa g n e r Mc La u g h l i n
the Collective
S
the Collective is an innovative networking initiative
to support Bay area legal services and its mission.
omeone much wiser than me once said that
there are three gifts in charitable giving: (1) the
gift of time; (2) the gift of talent; and (3) the
gift of treasure. Ideally, we as young lawyers
aspire to give each of these gifts through pro
bono services.
We all have an obligation to provide support and
legal services to members of our community who can’t
afford an attorney. Because of the unique demands on
young lawyers, however, we
often struggle to find the
opportunity to donate our
time, talent, and treasure to
community members most
in need of our help. When
given the choice to provide
pro bono services or to meet
our commitments to our
jobs and families, many of
us often realize we really don’t have much of a choice.
Fortunately, Bay Area Legal Services, a nonprofit law
firm whose goal is to provide legal support to the most
vulnerable members of our community, has come up
with an innovative networking group that makes it easier
for young lawyers to support BALS’s vision of
eliminating “barriers to justice through high quality legal
services, education, and community partnerships.”
It’s called The Collective.
The Collective is a networking group geared toward
young leaders in the legal community who believe in
BALS’s mission and who recognize our fundamental
duty as lawyers to improve access to justice. For young
lawyers, it’s a simple and low maintenance way to
network while promoting legal services for local citizens
in desperate need of legal help. The Collective aims to
6
bridge the gap between young civic-minded leaders and
the established network of BALS supporters who have
paved the way to promote civil legal aid in the Bay Area.
It also serves as an entryway for young attorneys to
make their mark and get involved in philanthropy.
The Collective is affordable. For as little as $21 a
month (70 cents a day), members and guests receive the
benefit of bi-monthly happy hour events at local venues.
Not only do members get the opportunity to build their
professional network, but
they know their monthly
contri bution is going
directly toward support -
ing BALS’s mission. The
money raised by The
Collective goes to worthy
causes such as protecting
foster children and our
senior citizens from
abuse, providing access to health benefits for our veterans,
preventing homelessness for families, and protecting
domestic violence survivors.
The Collective is still only in its first year, but its
success is evident. At the first two events, The Collective
hosted over 75 community members. Although in its
infancy, The Collective has proven to be a remarkable
option for young lawyers willing to use their time, talent,
and treasure to support a great cause.
For more information on how you can join the
Collective, please contact Alexandra Pullara, Marketing
Specialist for Bay Area Legal Services, at (813) 232-1222,
ext. 156 or e-mail her at [email protected]. You may
also learn more about The Collective by visiting
www.bals.org/support-us/donor-societies/the-collective.
You can also find The Collective on Facebook.
NOV - DEC 2018
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HCBA LAWYER