Dear Heaven Maker:
Pink Larkin, a law firm in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, has done something out of the ordinary that is helping transform law.
The partners in the firm hired a senior lawyer to do pro bono work. (Pro bono from the Latin pro bono public – for the public good.)
Usually law firms allow or require their legal staff to contribute some of their time to pro bono work. This isn’t billable and doesn’t bring in any income. It’s a way for the firm to contribute to the well being of the community in which they operate.
Pink Larkin has taken pro bono to a new level.
The person they hired, Vince Calderhead, is a former senior lawyer who worked for the provincial Legal Aid Commission. Pink Larkin covers his entire salary, benefits, office, and staff.
His job is not to take on the work of individual clients and bring them legal redress. Instead, his job is to represent that part of the population that is marginalized and that has no one speaking for them.
He takes on those cases which can be used as test cases to change laws or policy. His job is to help institute positive structural changes in the law and thus in society. He seeks out or plans those cases which deal with significant structural issues within the community which when they are resolved makes their lives of marginalized people more meaningful and better.
Pink Larkin is the first firm in Canada to do this. As Ron Pink, a managing partner, says in my interview with him, “If you can help those people in society who can’t help themselves and they get remedies which are satisfactory to them….what a difference you make for a whole lot of people!”
For me, Pink Larkin is helping the institution of Law take it’s rightful place in helping co-create Heaven on Earth.
I found this initiative so inspiring that I wanted to share it with you.
Enjoy.
Why This Is Important:
I’ve found it rare for people to take on an institution of society (Law, Business, Education, etc.) and have it consciously contribute to co-creating Heaven on Earth. As we get more examples they inspire others to do the same for the institutions they want to be Heaven Makers.
A Simple Action You Can Take:
Speak to your legal representative. Ask him/her to watch this video.
Speak to the association representing lawyers in your area and ask them to watch this video.
Please share this with one or two people you think may be interested.
PS: Apologies for the light bouncing off my face. I was at a window in an office and didn’t realize what the sun was doing through the trees. I actually kind of like the effect
Martin Rutte
