I believe that the truly successful, satisfied lawyers are those who give back some of what they take from this world, their community and their neighborhood. The best role model a lawyer can be is to teach that to others. And I believe that you friends, neighbors, and community watch what you do. And if you do it right they flock to your door.

I find lawyers stretch themselves so thin because of many charitable commmitments or service organizations they belong to until there is simply not enough time to make it all happen and then what they contribute looks insincere or not complete.

Lets others help you to help others. Provide each staff person with 3 hours per month to do charitable acts of kindness. Let each staff person make a recommendation how they wish to commit their time. (Make sure it is truly a charitable organization or concept). Set the schedule. Have the staff come back and let everyone know what they were doing. And let your staff know that they are part of someone else's efforts because you need to have them pick up the slack while the person is out. Trust me you will not miss three hours of staff time per month. And what you will gain is teaching others to help others.

And if you want to really make your firm feel good, build a wall of charitable acts of kindness by putting the hours each year and the organization your firm contributed to. It makes everyone feel proud.