Senior Lawyers Serving Public Interests: Pro Bono and Second-Stage Careers

Abstract:     
The United States is facing a demographic transformation with profound implications for all sectors of society. As lives have lengthened, what was once considered “‘old’ has become old-fashioned.” The legal profession is no exception. It is about to encounter the “largest, healthiest and wealthiest generation of lawyers to approach senior status …” Many will be asking the question that Peter Laslett posed in A Fresh Map of Life: How are we “going to use this sudden ... unanticipated release from mortality?” For a substantial number of lawyers, the answer will involve some “second stage” of work that involves public service. This overview seeks to provide a better understanding of this transformation of retirement and the opportunities it presents to promote justice for those who need it most.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 22

Keywords: Legal Profession, Pro Bono, Public Service, Access to Justice

working papers series