Law for The Poor

2392 FORDHAM LA WREVIEW
[Vol. 78
approval by counsel, the pro bono committee, and senior management,
"depending on the matter's sensitivity." 144 To cast greater light on the
selection process, we asked survey participants to rank the importance of
various factors on a scale of zero to five. Table 7 reports the results.
Table 7: Factors Influencing Case Selection (N=56)
Factors Mean CI Low* CI Hit Responses
The case is likely to
provide good training for 3.92 3.72 4.12 52
associates
The case involves an
issue likely to appeal to 3.73 3.49 3.97 52
firm associates
The case is referred by a
nonprofit legal
organization with which 3.56 3.34 3.78 52
the firm desires to
establish or maintain a
good relationship
The case is not likely to
strain the firm's resource 2.96 2.68 3.25 52
capacity
The case involves an
issue favored by partners 2.76 2.44 3.09 51
The case is likely to
result in good publicity 2.39 2.07 2.71 49
for the firm
The case involves an . . 25
issue favored by clients 1.86 1.47 2.25 51
• CI Low = Confidence Interval Low
t CI Hi = Confidence Interval High
For most firms, the key factors guiding case selection are opportunities
for training and appeal to associates. 145 A desire to establish or maintain
relationships with nonprofit referral organizations is also significant.
Attracting publicity and accommodating clients play relatively minor roles.
Of somewhat greater importance are the preferences of partners and
budgetary constraints.
Certain cases are out of bounds because of actual or positional conflicts
of interest. Positional conflicts involve matters that do not require
disqualification under ethical rules, but are likely to offend existing or
144. Survey Respondent 53.
145. Case selection is also driven by a strong interest in selecting cases that will make a
difference in people's lives and have social impact. Our question assumed these factors to
be important and focused on organizational considerations.