Mark Paladino

Mark Paladino is Counsel in the firm's Philadelphia office. His bio is available here.

Tell us about your pro bono experience.

I have had the privilege of working with a number of wonderful pro bono organizations, including the Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP), Philadelphia VIP, and Wills for Heroes. I have attended bi-monthly HAP legal clinics for over 10 years, have handled numerous Tangled Title matters through VIP, and have attended or assisted in staffing Wills for Heroes clinics.

Why is pro bono service important to you?

It is easy to get lost in the everyday practice of law and lose sight of why one became an attorney in the first place. Ideals of justice and altruism are what drove us to this profession, and pro bono service is a great reminder of that spirit.

Tell us about one of your most meaningful pro bono experiences, and how did it shape your opinion of pro bono work?

Through HAP, we often assist individuals with claims for Social Security disability benefits. I have worked with many clients on such matters over the years, but one particular client has always stuck with me. This client had significant cognitive impairment from a traumatic brain injury, but was able to live independently. After spending years in a shelter, and after being denied for benefits twice largely due to an inability to obtain records and effectively communicate their disability, I assisted this individual in finally receiving the benefits they deserved. Two months after receiving the award, I was met in our lobby by this individual, who greeted me with a hug and told me about the apartment they had just moved into. Our pro bono services truly can change lives, and this is the example that I will always proudly carry with me.

What advice do you have for lawyers who want to get involved in pro bono service?

Identify a cause that you have a personal connection with, and devote yourself fully to it just as you do in your daily practice. The benefits will far outweigh the efforts put in.