Posted October 2, 20249:00 am
As a law student at the University of Michigan, Lee Hutton understood the importance of the services that Legal Aid offered its clients. When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Andrew Douglas visited his law class, he was greatly influenced by his words. Douglas urged the class not to follow the yellow brick road to big law firms and corporations, but to use their talents to help people lacking a voice and power.
When the pandemic hit, Lee, a former shareholder at Littler Mendelson, donated his time to Legal Aid Virtual Advice Clinics.
“It was a perfect match. Lots of people in dire need of help with unemployment compensation and work-related issues,” he said. “And there I was a retired labor and employment lawyer who knew how to fix problems and had contacts with folks who could help fix them. It is downright rewarding to help clients navigate their way through the system, to provide answers to questions, and to help them solve problems.”
Lauren Gilbride, Managing Attorney for the Intake Group and Volunteer Lawyers Program, remembers when Lee helped to organize those clinics by encouraging others to participate. “He is a really great example of someone who has been supportive of Legal Aid while at a firm and continues that support through retirement,” she said.
Lee would encourage anyone who is considering volunteering for Legal Aid to step up and give it a try.
“The time investment—and it can be minimal or more—it just feels good. It is also a stark reminder of what it is like to have legal problems and no resources to address them. We owe it to others to share what we know.”
Legal Aid salutes the hard work of our pro bono volunteers. To get involved, visit our website, or email probono@lasclev.org.