By Michelle Darquea
What an honor it is to be an attorney. I became an attorney after much hard work – and we all know what that entails. I started doing pro bono work immediately because I was so grateful for the life I was afforded. When I moved to Nevada in 1999 from New York, I immediately sought out pro bono opportunities because of their importance to me. Participating in pro bono cases has not only enabled me to help people in need but has honored me with a sense of well-being that I truly cherish.
In 2001, Nevada Legal Services asked me to take a pro bono case. I took five cases because I had time to do so. That being said, if everyone can put in some effort, it does add up. And you may think that a small contribution is not that much, but all contributions count. You would be surprised at what a big difference it makes overall.
The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN)—for which I have been doing most of my pro bono efforts for years-has always given me great assistance and resources when needed. I was surprised when LACSN recently advised me that I assisted hundreds of people in only a year from participating in the Ask-A-Lawyer program, which was not terribly time-consuming.
Additionally, it is great for networking. I thank all my colleagues for all their pro bono efforts and encourage everyone to continue with pro bono contributions. I can attest that it is not overwhelming. We can get this done!
About the author
Michelle Darquea graduated from St. John’s University with a B.S. in 1990; she went on to receive her Juris Doctor from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 1994. Ms. Darquea has been a member of the New York State Bar since 1994. She was admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit in 1995 and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit in 2002. Ms. Darquea has been a member of the State Bar of Nevada since 2001. Ms. Darquea was also admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States in 2006.
About the article
This article was originally published in the Communiqué (Mar. 2025), the official publication of the Clark County Bar Association. See https://clarkcountybar.org/about/member-benefits/communique-2025/communique-mar-2025/. The printed magazine was mailed to CCBA members the week of March 4, 2025.
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