20th Anniversary Celebration

20th Anniversary Celebration Committee

20 Things You Might Not Know

20 Things You Can Do

Where are they now?

History of the Pro Bono Program

For the Good of the Order

Pro Bono Program

Where are they now?

Traci Goins

What firm/organization are you working with now?
Department of State, Foreign Service

What kind of pro bono or volunteer work have you been involved in?
None right now - I'm very restricted in what I can do in my job for political/security reasons, and I went on inactive status.

What are the main reasons why you would recommend that law students become involved in pro bono work?
It provides a great learning opportunity, you feel great for helping out, and it never hurt anyone's resume.

How would you encourage current law students to get involved with the Pro Bono program?
Just come into the office and find out what is going on. There are always projects, big and small.

Has pro bono work contributed to your sense of career satisfaction?
The work I did with VITA definitely did, I was proud of what I did, and it bolstered my interest in tax law (which in turn helped lead to a job in securities law, which in turn helped me land the job I have today as a U.S. Diplomat).

Did your experiences in the Pro Bono program at USC prepare you or benefit you in your career?
I can't say it prepared me exactly, but I think there was a benefit. Having it on my resume was a plus, my law firm mentioned it in my attorney profile on the website, and there were other past VITA volunteers at my firm.

In your career, have you seen an overlap between your volunteer work and your sense of your own place in the community and the legal profession?
Not yet.

How do pro bono efforts fit in to the work of the South Carolina Bar?
It promotes community goodwill and frankly, is just the right thing to do. Lawyers in general occupy a relatively privileged place in society - it's only right to give something back.

What kind of perceptions, positive or negative, do you think that the bar as a whole has about attorneys who are actively involved in pro bono work?
I think it varies widely from firm to firm. Some firms support it, might even require it, while others feel like the time you spend doing pro bono work would be better spent generating billable hours for them.

What is most memorable/best experience you had during your law school career through the Pro Bono program?
I helped several elderly S.C. residents get their taxes done, and worked hard to find appropriate deductions for them. I felt like I was offering a valuable, tangible benefit to them, and I'm so glad I worked with the VITA program.

What does the 20th Anniversary of the Pro Bono program mean to you?
I'm glad to be associated with the University of South Carolina Law School in general, and having a robust pro bono program is another source of pride for the school.

What is your most cherished memory with Pam?
Just the time we spent planning/working on the VITA program - and of course the time she got an especially gnarly steam burn from mishandling hot pasta. An object lesson for the rest of us.