Why Pro Bono Work Matters — Especially for Junior Litigators
By Christian Palacios
Three years into practice and entering what many would call “mid-level status,” I’ve found myself reflecting on the most formative experiences of my early career. I am fortunate to work at a firm — and within a practice group — that places real trust in its junior attorneys. In just a few years, I’ve experienced the full lifecycle of litigation, from responding to pre-litigation demands, to taking and defending depositions, to preparing and arguing dispositive motions.
Well… almost the full lifecycle.
For most junior and mid-level civil litigators, trial experience remains an elusive milestone. Opportunities to actually “first-chair” a trial are exceedingly rare for junior lawyers, often reserved for far more senior litigators. But in the pro bono world, that dynamic changes. There, both financial and practical realities often encourage law firms to give younger attorneys meaningful ownership over cases — including trial preparation and sometimes trial itself.
My closest brush with “first-chairing” a trial came through a pro bono matter. Although the case ultimately settled before we reached a jury, the experience reshaped the way I think about attorney learning, responsibility, and the role of pro bono work in my own professional development.
I inherited a prisoner’s rights case that had passed through several hands — first another law firm, then a retiring partner at my own firm, and finally to me. In the Northern District of Illinois, like many other jurisdictions, every member of the Trial Bar must be willing to represent indigent litigants when the court calls on them.
This pro bono matter played a valuable role in my professional development. At the outset, I immediately had the opportunity to argue the response in opposition to summary judgment in federal court, an opportunity I found to be particularly meaningful.
The first time I ever saw oral argument in Illinois federal court was more than a decade ago, when I was an intern at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission the summer after my sophomore year of college. I remember accompanying one of the government attorneys to the Dirksen Federal Courthouse and sitting in the gallery as opening statements began in a high-profile lawsuit between basketball legend, Michael Jordan, and the now defunct grocery store chain, Dominick’s. At the time, it never crossed my mind that one day I would be the attorney standing at the podium in that same building, addressing a federal judge.
But this pro bono case gave me exactly that opportunity.
After hearing oral arguments, from both defense counsel and me, the judge denied the defendant’s motion for summary judgment from the bench. In the weeks that followed, I drafted the pretrial order, jury instructions, motions in limine, crafted voire dire questions, created examination outlines and made preparations to transport my client to Chicago for trial. Most importantly, I practiced my opening and closing arguments, recording my speech on my phone and listening to it to and from the office.
Three weeks before the trial date, the case ultimately settled, yet the experience was invaluable, and I would never have had that growth opportunity without saying yes to pro bono work.
My recommendation to junior or mid-level lawyers — particularly litigators — is to take on a pro bono assignment, especially a prisoners’ rights matter, if the opportunity presents itself.
Pro bono work is important for all the reasons you’re familiar with. It’s essential to ensuring equal access to representation under the law — one of the chief motivating factors behind the Legal Services Corporation. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(f) also requires all attorneys to report their pro bono legal hours to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission on an annual basis.
But pro bono work is also important for a newer attorney’s own development. Pro bono work often gives young lawyers their first real opportunity to lead a case, argue in court, or prepare for trial. These experiences are not just resume lines; they are confidence-building, skill-sharpening milestones that can accelerate a career.
Christian Palacios is an Associate at Duane Morris LLP where he practices workplace class action and employment litigation. He received his J.D. from Notre Dame and his B.A. from the University of Chicago. Prior to law school, Christian worked as a legal assistant at Sidley Austin where he had the opportunity to assist the Chairman of the Legal Services Corporation, John Levi, with his mission to provide low income Americans with equal access to justice.
Why Pro Bono Work Matters — Especially for Junior Litigators was originally published in Justice Rising on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.