News Scrapbook 1988

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LEGAL~lBig Firms ASked to Volunteer Contl?u-e~ r/om race 12 cially ...hen you're looking for help Fletcher and Mack, S~n Diego's those who have donated lheir on the complex cases," said Steven third largest firm, conftrmed that time." Nissen, executive director for Pub- trend. Lure, Forward lawyers who vol- lie Counsel In Los Angeles. "We "When 1 was recruiting actively unteer are not given credit toward have had lo work a lot l)arder to for the firm 10 years ago, almost billable hours. But the work 1s find attorneys willing to volunteer every applicant ~o~jd jl_Sk aboul counted toward another firm re - their time. and it's largely because our pro bono pohcy, s:ud Higgs, d in lhi.5 era of big salaries firms are who was among the founders of the qu!rement-that attorneys spen a looking more and mo;e at the Volunteer Lawyer Program. "Now, mlmmum amount or time each year on professional development. Aa Appeal for Support bottom line.'' you very rarely hear that ques- Craig Hjggs, a partner al Higgs. lion."

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(n° an efforl to develop a fruilful relationship with lh~ lop 35 firms In town Ned Huntlng~on, the presi- dent of the county bar association, recently sent out a letter requesl- lng that senior partners grant Poir- ot an opportunity to make his pitch. "1 think the burden is on 113 to educate them about the importance of doing pro bono work and the b neflt~ 1t aclually can bring their firm," ~unlington said. "It's my expectation that one we give them the opportunity. they'll seize it and San Diego will do as well in this , area as other parts of the state.'' in ddition to the traditional gulll argument that lawyers have. an obligation to donate their services to the poor. Poirot said he has several incentives to use in his efforl to woo large firms. For starters, pro bono work gives - you11g lawyers courtroom experi- ence and direct client contact-two things many employed by large firms may not enjoy for years. Attorneys who typically handle complex cases that last for years also may enjoy shepherding a sim- ple landlord-tenant dispute from start to finish. "I.don't want to glamorize It, but this ·kmd of work can be very satlsf.)'ing because you usually have,a very direct impact on a person's life." said Wrlghl of Pro- copio,Cory "That's something you don't get in a ban,dng o ..or.1:ner ciai•, real estate case that won't mak~ or break your client." And, while much of the work Is nutsland-bolts material that does not mak.! headlines, there are occa- alonal• c,>portunit!es for good pub- liclly! not to mention the stature performing pro bono work earns a firm among its peers. So far, Poirot has had meetings wttti two law firms-both of which weri! 1 'encouraging and receptive.'' One' ,partner-with Latham and Walkihs-agreed to send a memo to assdciates, urging them to get Involved in lhe program. The sec- ond.:...al Baker & McKenzie- agreed lo presenl Polrol's case to attorneys and encourage participa- tion·' Neeper, Marshall and others In- terviewed, meanwhile, said they would gladly listen to Poirot's appeal and, depending on their reaction, see what they could do to muster support. Ma~shall noted that Jennings, Engstrand already Is considering establishing a pro bono committee that would seek significant pro l>ono cases for the firm-mostly those that would have some sort or impa<;t on policy. A similar proposal Is under study at Gray, Cary. Neeper said the firm may allocate a certain number of pro bono hours Lo each associate or volunteer a chunk or lime Lo one organ!zation. De11pite the promising start, Poirot and his colleagues face some some tough realities as they push for help from large law firms. Nationally, the pressure on first- and second-year associates at ma- jor fi~ms to log billable hours is more ,intense than ever, largely because salaries for those positions have !fOared in recent years. That trend, coupled with the oft-mentioned effect the "Me Gen- eration" has had on attorneys' interest in performing volunteer work. has had an impact on pro bono programs ln Los Angeles and San Francisco. "T~ese have been hard times for volun~eer lawyer programs, espe-

San Diego, CA (San Diego Co .) San Diego Union (Cir. D. 217,089) (Cir. S. 341,840) 988

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·: Suoddy: August 14, 1988

'\!IJe M jl)icgo Jdnton C-3

the cost,.;.pfice dilemma

L ising college tuition A ,.Z,'f:~H t· 1 f · · · By uthor E. ughes 10na average or private umvers1-

er-education system is still the best in the world. It offers more accessc, teaching competence, innovation, re- search productivity and diversity- than any other. On that basis alone, it is a worthy investment. It is imperative that all of us rec- ognize the importance of maintain- ing our affordable education system. Consider that the average four- year college student begins a career $9,000 in debt. That figure no doubt will increase. ., 1 This forces graduates to focus un- duly on high-paying jobs and stu- h dents into majors that lead to such ._ jobs. Careers like teaching, nursing and community counseling have suf• fered. Our primary efforts must insure • that colleges and universities give • people access to opportunities and, consequently, their piece of the. American dream. But we must work to maintain a system that en- courages some to act on a dream of helping others, not just helping them- selves. The public must realize that we in higher education care and that, de- spite some setbacks and cost increas- es, by working together we can keep our common dream affordable. Hughes is presideDt, UDiversity of San Diego.

JOb of articulating their successes to those who make decisions on funding. For example, federal Pell grants are a critical source of student financial aid that recently have shrunk. Con- gress must be shown that these funds help not only students, but also the communities they serve after gradu- ation. These are truly an investment in human capital. Colleges can renew and step up efforts to establish mutu:•• ally beneficial partnerships "'.it~, their communities. For example, USD produces public forums that e~-. amine critical community issues such as growth management. Also, our School of Law and the County Bar established the San Diego Law Center to assist the com- munity with innovative prQgratns such as neighborhood mediatio,. Un- less colleges are willing to offer the society they serve tangible benefits, they can expect less support. College can take a leadership role in the effort to restore "American know-how" ~s ,a rfspected commodi- ty worldwide. , , For eKarnple,' the USO School of Business, 'responding to the need gen- erated by the region's vast amount of entrepreneurial business, begins an academic program this fall to assist small-business owners. Keep in mind, the American high-

Commentary

ties. Tuition is the price a student pays to receive a college education, which includes not only the course work leading to a degree, but the complementary non-academic ser- vices and activities that comprise the total college experience. It is im- portant to distinguish between tui- tion, or price, charged by an inde- pendent college such as USD, and tui- tion charged by a state-supported institution such as CCSD or SDSU. State-supported tuition levels charged to student~ are lower be- cause they are heavily subsidized. subsidy. Costs of financing higher education include expenditure$ for employee salaries, libraries, Equipment, labo- ratories and many more. These costs of the education, academic and non- academic services, are a function of complex forces and conditions that make up our overall social-economic environment. Over the past 15 years, several factors have forced these costs to rise, resulting in an erosion of higher education's affordability. Some factors: • Rapidly rising rates of inflation. • Withdrawal of government sup- The price, therefo of attending a college within the California State University system is the amount the student pays plus the government

With the cost of college education increasing, the public deserves to know why. While higher education is not the only segment of the economy whose costs have risen faster than the cost tif living, it is under public scrutiny. Many families are concerned about their financial abilities to send their tjtildren to college, and some are questioning whether it is worth the investment. It is easier to deal with the second question - from an economic per- spective, analysis of income earned over a lifetime increases dramatical- ly for those who attend college. Many careers are simply not open for those who do not have a college degree. Even if the practical considera- twns are disregarded, there is anoth- er compelling reason for continuing one's education. In this society, the future of our pohcy and civility are dependent upon the informed mind. There is simply no promising fu- ture for a people that neglects the minds of its youth. The matter of fi- nancing education, giving it econom- ic priority, is another and more diffi- cult matter to reason. The Univei:sity of San Diego, which relies heavily on tuition, was required this year to increase tuition by 8 percent, 1 percent below the na-

Tbe UBioD welcomes commentaries from its readers. Submissions should be typed, double-spaced, and not more than 750 words. Information cannot be provided on individual commentaries because of their daily volume. Inquiries about them, therefore, should not be made. Manuscripts will not be returned.

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port for student grants and loans, which are also tuition subsidies. • Need for colleges to attend to building maintenance, which had been deferred on many campuses during the '70s. • Emphasis on expensive research and high-tech supportive equipment. • Increased expectations for uni- versities to provide expensive non- academic services such as medical care and job placement. The disappointing view is that tui- tion increases which reflect rising costs of college attendance will very likely continue. There are no indica- tions there will be immediate rever- sals, nor is it obvious that colleges, particularly private ones, have come across new sources of funds to offset nsing costs. In fact, the greatest cost of opera- tion in a college is labor. Faculty and staff pay compromise the largest segment of any college or university budget. These costs not only will in-

crease, they should. A recent study shows the average professor's salary at $37,000. That "average professor" has an earned doctorate, at least 10 to 15 years of college teaching experience, and is subject to the same costs of living as anyone else. Even more startling is the beginning salary for college pro- fessors. On the average, an instructor at a college or university will begin teaching at $23,000 per year. If higher education hopes to at- tract the brightest students as poten- tial teachers, salaries will have to improve. , If college is to be affordable, if choice of institutions are to be a real- ity, what can be done? Funds for financial aid must be given priority by college presidents. At USD, we have managed to in- crease university merit scholarships and grants from $2.2 million in 1982 to almost $4 million last school year. "aching-oriented universi- Sma 1

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USD, must do a better

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Oceanside, CA (San Diego Co.) North County Blade Tribune ! Cir. D. 29,089) Cir. S. 30,4~8)

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AUG 15 1988 Jl,/~'• P. C. 8 "Eu 1888

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emperature arid tension are high in small country B~~~TLEFIELD the job four years ago. A former professor at the lloi- Slaff Writer versity of San Die&Q._~Ghougas- CARLSBAD - Being a U.S. sion addressed theArmenian ambassador to a country that Relief Society Saturday evening. occupies a small peninsula ex- He spoke mainly on the United tending into the Persian Gulf is States' successful role in achiev- like being a eral on a bat- ing peace between Iran and Iraq. tlefield, accord , ,;;, o the man on Ghougassian shares a small the spot. part of that success story in that "And the battlefield is open," he was able to convince gov- said Joseph Ghougassian, who ernment oificals of Qatar

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