Why We Serve
Our commitment to our community goes beyond the practice of law. Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP strongly believes in giving back to the civic, philanthropic, professional, educational and charitable activities and organizations that serve to better our community and its citizens.
How We Serve
Financial Support - Our firm financially supports approximately 50 different organizations each year. These groups include those in support of human services, health causes, educational institutions, arts and culture programs, historical societies, civic organizations and professional groups.
Community Service - A commitment to community service is also deeply ingrained in the firm’s culture and leadership. Many partners have served in significant leadership positions in community, nonprofit and civic organizations. More than 100 groups benefit from the combined efforts of the firm's financial support and our attorneys' commitment to community service.
Additionally, many of our attorneys and staff members are active participants in their communities and volunteer in local churches, schools, youth programs and animal shelters. We share their passion for giving back to organizations at the heart of every community.
Friday Cares - Our Friday Cares (#fridaycares) program is a way for us to acknowledge those who volunteer on their own or through one of the firm's unified efforts. Each holiday season, the Friday Cares Donation Drive benefits a group or cause that is in particular need this time of year. In the past, we have chosen to benefit organizations that help the homeless, children, elderly and animals in need. We also support heart health annually through firm-wide fundraising efforts that benefit the American Heart Association. We also organize activities like blood pressure checks that benefit our employees and support the mission of heart health.
Pro Bono - By working with key partners in low-income communities, our attorneys provide pro-bono representation to families who would normally not be able to afford this service. Through programs like Volunteers Organization for Central Arkansas Legal Services (VOCALS) and Legal Aid of Arkansas, Inc., we help those in need. These efforts exemplify a commitment to provide legal protection for all Arkansans. Our firm received the Beacon of Justice Award from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association. Guy Wade, Harry Light, and William A. Waddell, Jr. have served on the boards of organizations supporting legal aid in Arkansas. Most recently, Harry Light was awarded the Legal Service Corporation’s Pro Bono Award in January 2020.
Civic Outreach - Serving the legal community is another key component to our civic outreach efforts. Some of our attorneys have served or are actively serving in leadership roles of the American, Arkansas, Pulaski County, Washington County and Benton County Bar Associations. Three past presidents of the Arkansas Bar Association have come from our ranks, including the late Herschel Friday, Frederick S. Ursery and James M. Simpson.
Education - We also serve by providing educational programs to local companies and organizations such as Arkansas SHRM Council, Arkansas Bankers Association, Arkansas Municipal League, Arkansas Society of CPAs and many others. Our firm hosts tax seminars throughout the year to make sure the public is provided the most up-to-date education related to tax law. Some of our attorneys are adjunct professors at both the University of Arkansas School of Law and the University of Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law.
Who We Serve
Friday, Eldredge & Clark has long been a supporter of numerous charitable organizations through a commitment of both time and resources. Most recently, the firm and its attorneys have supported the organizations:
*Denotes one of the firm’s attorneys currently serves in a leadership position