Note: This article is a recap of Lesley Rosenthal’s presentation at Proskauer’s 17th Annual Trick or Treat Tax Exempt Seminar, November 29, 2012
Attorneys can reap enormous rewards by serving on nonprofit boards. Lawyers derive tremendous personal satisfaction in governing an organization that is meaningful to them. They can do the public good by participating in a charity that feeds the poor, heals the sick, enlightens through culture and education, or preserves the environment.
Nonprofit board service is prestigious, and invaluable for professional networking. It is also a great remedy for the ennui that sometimes sets in when lawyers work inside big law firms, corporate departments or government agencies, and a cure for the isolation of solo or small-firm practice. A lawyer who serves as a nonprofit trustee is likely to quickly become a trusted and valued member of the team, whose individual contributions markedly enhance a worthwhile enterprise.