Good deeds.

When employment firm Proskauer Rose LLP sought a more meaningful experience for summer associates, they looked to their newest office in New Orleans, which opened in October of 2004.

"You will hear many firms tell you about pro bono efforts and the things that are important besides the crass making of money," said Howard Shapiro, managing partner at the New Orleans office. "But Proskauer's pro bono efforts are unparalleled."

This weekend, four summer associates from Los Angeles will head to the bayou to help Habitat for Humanity International build a house in Slidell. La., a hurricane-whacked suburb a little north of New Orleans. The associates will join 48 others from Proskauer's offices around the U.S. The firm is also donating $45,000 to Habitat for the cost of the house.

Shapiro said by using Blackberry text messages he was able to track down the 13 lawyers in his office shortly after Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29. But it took the better part of the following week to locate support staff. He found the last missing person almost a week later--an assistant who has worked for him 10 years. The man had been rescued by helicopter from the freeway.

Shapiro is convinced that the message the firm is sending the associates will stick with them.

"Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars entertaining, we're going to take that money and ask you if you're willing to come down here and work like dogs, when you could be having a good time doing what people in their 20s do on the weekends." Shapiro was impressed.

"It's a remarkable indicator of the mores of our firm and to the credit of these law clerks."

The new Slidell home is for Natasha Arrington, a single mother with four children. The family is currently living in a three-bedroom house with nine other extended family members who were also displaced by Katrina.