Celebrate #GivingTuesday: Give or Serve

According to Wikipedia,Giving Tuesday :

refers to the Tuesday after U.S. Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a movement to create an international day of giving at the beginning of the Christmas and holiday season.  Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation as a response to commercialization and consumerism in the post-Thanksgiving season (Black Friday and Cyber Monday).

Five years later, Giving Tuesday has gotten so much traction that for some, it’s become an annoyance. Many of my colleagues have complained that their email is brimming with donation requests from every charity and non-profit that they’ve ever been affiliated with.

As a solo and small firm owner, I often chafe at demands for additional giving. After all, most solos and smalls are expected to further access to justice  by providing cut-rate, low bono service – something many firms do “involuntarily” each time a client stiffs them for fees. Nevertheless, I’m a fan of Giving Tuesday because it targets all potential donors across the board, and allows for modest contributions that don’t dig into the bottom line. Charity doesn’t have to hurt.  Moreover, unlike taking on a court-appointed case or pro bono matter for a legal aid group, Giving Tuesday doesn’t involve any more of a time commitment than the click of a button.

You don’t have to limit your donations to Giving Tuesday – there’s still a full month before 2017 draws to a close. But whether you want to give to do your small part, or to show gratitude for what you have or just in the hopes of attracting a teeny bit of good Karma in the coming year, consider making giving an annual law firm tradition.

This post is part of the Four Actions to Take Before the End of the Year theme series.