Established in 1902, the Portland Audubon Society is the second-oldest nonprofit wildlife organization in the United States. One of the largest nonprofits of its kind, it is more independent than many. With its own wildlife care center and sanctuary, informative classes, lectures, trips, and a nature store filled with various books, birdfeeders, and gifts, this organization cares for more than 3,500 orphaned and injured animals per year and educates and encourages more than 7,500 members, as well as the local community. Coon, her staff, and volunteers work endlessly to ensure that local and statewide officials are aware of the environment's needs and that they take actions to secure its safety and longevity, as well as the safety and longevity of the creatures that depend on it.
When lawyers like Coon decide to devote their extensive expertise to the development and growth of less mighty organizations, they must abandon the mentalities of high-powered business professionals and embrace the causes they are fighting for, coming to realize that they are now "Davids" and not the "Goliaths" that they used to be.
Coon elaborated, saying, "You better learn how to work the copy machine. When I worked in a private law firm, I had a paralegal and a secretary dedicated to my work. But here, at a nonprofit, everybody is equal. There is no support staff. You need to know everything, from fixing your computer to putting toner in the copy machine to filling out expense forms."
Lacking support from a large firm with lots of money and resources means lawyers at nonprofit organizations must put forth exceeding effort to succeed in their various campaigns and programs. "Representing fish and wildlife is always a Don Quixote kind of a quest. You recognize that you are fighting with the big boys and they have far more resources than you do. I think that you have to have a passion for the work and a stomach for frustration. And you have to recognize when you are burned out and take a break," said Coon.
Coon advised that before lawyers get involved with nonprofit organizations, they need to develop strong foundations as business attorneys: "I think it is a mistake to go directly from law school to a nonprofit unless that is all you ever want to do." Besides the fact that it broadens your range as a lawyer, experiencing and learning about the corporate avenues of the legal profession is important because the knowledge you gain will serve as a valuable tool later on, Coon said. Knowing how private firms operate and understanding business lawyers' mentalities is extremely advantageous to nonprofit lawyers, since oftentimes private firms and business lawyers are the opponents they must deal with.
According to Coon, even those who aspire to work solely in nonprofit law should invest some time in business law firms. The diverse exposure and knowledge gained in the first few years can almost be viewed as another level of schooling or, rather, another stepping stone. Once a lawyer acquires knowledge in this area, he or she will be more aware of the challenges to come.
"The urge to go directly into your field of interest is totally understandable, but when I look back at where I got some of my best training, it wasn't necessarily at the jobs I enjoyed most," said Coon.
