Summarize what you have learned from the book.

Introduction

Pro bono services are rendered by law firms as per the requirements of the laws of a certain state. They are meant to serve and assist those marginalized communities and the poor people who are accused of crimes that sometimes are capital crimes. A lawyer from a certain law firm may decide to take a case of an individual from the underserved populations like children or the elderly people in the society. These people require such support because, on most occasions, they are denied their rightful access to justice. Accepting a case “pro bono” means that the lawyer will offer the service at a free charge as a professional responsibility in order to meet the overwhelming need for legal services among those unable to pay. According to Granfield, Robert, and Lynn (201), only half of the people in the low and moderate-income households can get the civil legal aid; a problem they experience each year. This essay revolves around a true story, which is part memoir, and part hard-hitting expose, by a first-year student who took a case pro bono to help free a wrongly convicted person.

Organize:

Summary of the book

Ian Graham, the author of the “Unbillable Hours: A True Story” book, explains part of his life at Latham and Watkins where he worked as a litigation associate for around five years. The book centers on a case pro bono that he accepted when he first landed at the prestigious law firm in Los Angeles. It felt as if all his dreams had come true because this was just the beginning of a new and good life for Ian Graham. With a six-figure income and a job located at one of the best cities, Graham was very positive about his life and career. Little did he know that he was on a strenuous journey through a system that only served to break all those who entered it before it makes them the great people they dream of becoming. Ian Graham found the work demanding, arduous, and boring, thus in order to cut down the seemingly long hours of the day, he decided to rack up billable hours.

While trying to run away from the tedious work designed by the system, Graham came across a pro bono case that changed his whole perspective of the job and gave a meaning and reasons to appreciate his career. He took a case that was meant to save the innocent Mario Rocha, who had been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment without any chance of parole. The newbie attorney, who was more accustomed to the luxurious box at Dodger Stadium than the ‘low-life’ found behind the prison walls, had to make a choice. As such, Graham had to choose between helping Mario or giving in to the greed for money. The book shows a huge contrast between the hypocrisy of the law firm life’s quest for power and the desperate struggle Mario faced while fighting for his freedom. Graham had to make a concrete decision considering the future of his career as a corporate lawyer and solve the ‘mess’ created by the miscarriage of justice that was now clear to him. As such, he decided to take the risk of losing all that he had worked for and help wrongly convicted young man.

After a shootout during a party in the neighborhood, a student was murdered, and Mario was arrested and convicted of a crime that he had not committed. With one year’s experience, Graham knew that, the case he was about to take was a race against time because he had to free Mario before it was too late. In addition, Mario was already noted as a ‘snitch’ and the code of the inmates was that snitches were killed, as secrets among the inmates were not allowed. “Twice, Mario had been attacked, stabbed, and nearly killed” while in the prison and the same threats were facing Graham outside the prison walls (Graham, 4). Therefore, Graham had to hasten the release of Mario by proving his innocence.

Principles/characters

The acts portrayed by Graham where he decides to resist the selfish nature of his profession, where without money, fairness cannot be exercised in the justice system, display the qualities of a good attorney. As much as Graham was ambitious, he showed is boldness when he decided to take on the case as he felt responsible and used his intelligence to help Mario. Nevertheless, Mario’s life is completely distinct from the kind of life that Graham lives. Consequently, Mario was born and raised in a neighborhood that is associated with violence while Graham’s life is full of riches and privileges. Despite being raised by an immigrant single mother, Mario is smart and artistic young man who fights hard to avoid peer pressure and keep off the criminal gangs that have taken over of his friends and family members. His character shows that he has a purpose and dreams of living a different life from that he has known all his life. The author gives a story of two main characters, Graham, and Mario, from distinct worlds whose paths cross at very weird situations. Unlike other, fictional stories which are sometimes quite boring, Unbillable Hours is a true story that reads more like a novel, exploring the various personalities of the key characters in the story. The author reveals some great insights into the Los Angeles legal justice life by showing how he was courted by a famous law firm in the region and bring every day-to-day activity into life.

Evaluation

Unbillable Hour is a readable book that tells a true story, making it good to read and facilitate a fast reading, which means that one will not need to spend much time on the book. Looking at the title of the book, I was naturally curious to understand what the author had to say about billing since I am quite familiar with the aspect of billing hours. As much as there are other professionals that use the same systems of charging their clients, the word “Attorney” was constantly crossing my mind when I first read the title of the book. I was surprised to learn that the book was actually a memoir and not a common novel when I opened it and read the introduction. Graham clearly states, “This book is an account of my five years as an associate at Latham in Los Angeles. It is not a novel…” (Graham, xi). Actually, Graham, the law firm, Mario Rocha, Sister Janet, and every other person named in the book are real people, and all the events that occur in the case, happened as described in the book; they are all real. As such, getting to understand what Mario was going through during this time as I read the book created an emotional investment in Mario. This emotional feeling kept growing throughout as I was curious about what happened to him, eventually. Being wrongly convicted of murder could be more than a life-taking experience, especially for such a young man who seemed to have huge dreams and hope for a better and brighter future. Additionally, this book will make several people have a second thought while deciding on whether to the law schools or consider taking law as a second career.

Recommendation

I would recommend this book to my fellow students and other people out there who went almost, through a similar ordeal, or to those who feel hopelessness creeping into their lives. There are little things that you can do and feel good about, like when you read about someone’s experience and realize that there are people going through worse situations than you. It gives you hope and the need to fight harder because everything could just turn out fine just like in Mario’s story. The book requires you to read with an open mind without criticizing the author. That way, it will be easier for the reader to understand the thrilling part of it as well as be able to appreciate the efforts of Graham in trying to reveal the sloppy side of the justice systems. The book will be able to help the law students relate the experiences at the law school, recruitment, as well as the actual practice with the real situation on the ground.

References

Granfield, Robert, and Lynn M. Mather. Private Lawyers and the Public Interest: The Evolving Role of Pro Bono in the Legal Profession. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Internet resource.

Graham, Ian. Unbillable Hours: A True Story. New York, N.Y: Kaplan Pub, 2010. Print.

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