Hit 500 hours of pro bono work in GTA and the judge barely blinked

I do legal aid stuff in Scarborough and last month I crossed 500 hours helping tenants fight evictions. I was pumped thinking it'd matter in court, maybe get a nod from a judge. Instead, one guy just said "next case" without looking up. Made me wonder if all this work actually changes anything or just makes me feel good. Has anyone else seen their hours pile up with zero recognition in the courtroom?

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wyattmitchell2mo ago

The thing is, pro bono hours don't really impress judges in the same way they impress law firms or legal aid offices. Most judges I've seen just care about the argument you make that day, not what you did in the past (which honestly is a bit cold). I've had a judge straight up cut me off mid-sentence when I mentioned my legal aid work, like he was allergic to hearing about it. The hours are great for your resume and your own sense of accomplishment, but the court system is too jammed up for anyone to hand out participation trophies. You're not doing it wrong, you're just expecting a thank you from the wrong audience.

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christopher9522mo ago

Oh man, @wyattmitchell you nailed it. I had a judge once yawn right in my face when I was trying to talk about my pro bono caseload, like it was the most boring thing he'd ever heard. At some point you just gotta accept that the courtroom is not a gratitude party.

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