Pro Bono

I have been thinking about sending this letter to The Florida Bar News for more than 30 years. I kid not. An article in the March  issue, “Zehnder honored with Tobias Simon Pro Bono Service Award,” suggested I have waited long enough. Please don’t get me wrong: I think it is incumbent upon everyone — lawyers and layfolk alike — to give to others. I am honored to be a colleague of not only Mr. Zehnder but of all the other mentioned awards recipients.

However, I write to suggest that perhaps The Florida Bar should instead follow a scriptural suggestion: that we not pat the back of our profession, or of individual professionals, with these sorts of awards. “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:1-4.

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