Commiting to pro bono.

After reading President McGrane's comments in the October issue, I became inspired and movitated to participate in more pro bono legal work.

Many of us (certainly myself) often erroneously have concluded that we are too "specialized" to handle pro bono cases. For example, as an attorney involved primarily in representing nurses, hospitals, nursing homes (and their respective insurance carriers), I have typcially felt educationally and professionally challenged to represent indigent clients in real estate, landlord-tenant, breach of contract, and tax matters. "I don't know how." "I'd be committing legal malpractice."

Whose fault is this? None other than mine. Legal education clinics and seminars are offered on a near daily basis and in numerous locations so as to teach and update attorneys to enable them to handle most any type of case.

In the future, I vow to become more knowledgeable in areas of the law where I can serve indigent clients. They do deserve legal representation-and quality legal representation at that. I consider it my job, duty, and ethical responsibility as an attorney to provide this representation. I will strive to live up to Chesterfield Smith's mandate in this respect.

Thanks, Miles, for reminding me of my obligations as a member of The Florida Bar. I, too, want to "do well by doing good."

CATHERINE B. PARKS

Miami