Shearman & Sterling associate Laura Chirita (New York-Property) recently honed her legal skills while helping the needy, as she completed a pro bono matter coordinated through Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS).

Chirita, who joined the firm last year after serving as a summer associate, helped an elderly, low-income man prepare his will, along with a power of attorney and health care proxy documents. The client had approached his local senior center about obtaining assistance with these items.

After her initial meeting with the client, Chirita worked on the documents over the course of three weeks, checking in with VOLS attorney Oscar Straus occasionally for guidance. "Oscar was very helpful and actually turned the process into a learning experience for me by encouraging me to dig for answers to questions as they arose," Chirita says. Having taken a few courses in trusts and estates in law school, Chirita was always interested in the topic, she says, and "it was great to be able to apply that knowledge."

Shearman & Sterling has a long history with VOLS, a non-profit legal services provider that provides training and mentoring to volunteer attorneys willing to assist the low income individuals VOLS serves. Shearman & Sterling partner Lee Kuntz (New York-Property) is on the board of the organization. Chirita reports that the experience was "very rewarding," helping her to build confidence as an attorney, and she looks forward to taking on similar assignments in the future.