Living the Dream Job
An Interview with Al Wallis, Executive Director - Brown Rudnick Center for The Public Interest
As the Executive Director of the Brown Rudnick Center for The Public Interest, Al Wallis makes it possible for lawyers and staff at Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP to participate in altruistic activities and pro bono work. A graduate of Boston University School of Law Class of 1973, Wallis is one of the two recipients the fall Alumni Public Service Award.
The Brown Rudnick Center for Public Interest serves as the umbrella entity that comprises all the firm’s pro bono legal work, community involvement and service, charitable giving and other public interest efforts. Wallis is in charge of coordinating all these components and making sure the goals of the Center are met. “The center has been constantly evolving. The way the firm sees it, the Center’s core mission is to serve as an intersection between the two images of law; law as a business and law as a profession. Our goal here is to sustain that image of law not merely as a business but more importantly, that it is still a profession and calling.”
Wallis can speak personally about being a lawyer with a calling. “I initially chose to go to law school to become a legal services attorney, choosing Boston University School of Law because of its good reputation for its clinical programs. My time in law school was spent volunteering at legal services centers and spending my summer after law school performing service as a VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) volunteer.” After law school, Wallis’s career as a lawyer certainly is extensive, spanning private, nonprofit, and public sectors, including serving as the First Assistant Corporation Counsel for Boston Mayors Flynn and Menino.
Over lunch with a good friend and colleague, Wallis was asked to describe his “dream” job. Al wanted to establish a public interest program in a successful large firm where legal resources were abundant and the program provided a vast range of legal contributions to individuals and the community. Year later, this friend informed Wallis that his dream job was available: the Executive Director of the Brown Rudnick Center for The Public Interest. Created in the spring of 2001, the Center has received tremendous recognition and has become an integral part of the firm culture. Wallis has definitely a lot to do with this.
Wallis believes passionately about the importance of doing pro bono work. “Each year I always tell new associates that they have the ability to influence the legal environment in firms. Pro bono programs were initially meant to attract them (top law students) into the firms.” Wallis urges newly hired attorneys to voice their desire to become involved with pro bono work and not to be shy when they first start out in a large firm.
“Early on, you have to set standards for yourself. As you first start out, you should figure out a method of incorporating pro bono work into your schedule, determining the standards for which you receive clients, and developing good habits as a lawyer early in your career. You should develop a ‘system’ that works best for you.” Wallis stressed the importance of staying organized and revealed his small black organizer where he keeps a track record of daily phone calls, conversation notes, and follow up appointments.
Wallis goes on to say, “Pro bono gives lawyers the opportunity to help people who otherwise would not receive assistance. Law students owe it to themselves to do pro bono work. Failing to do so is depriving yourself of that meaningful opportunity to serve with pure motivation.” Al’s dream job has provided impoverished individuals and communities with legal assistance and educational improvements; a dream that future attorneys can also make a reality.
To Find out more about Brown Rudnick’s Center for The Public Interest, please go to http://www.brownrudnickcenter.com/.