That was the thinking behind The Bridge of Books Foundation, which a handful of lawyers co-founded in June 2000. Tricia McCarthy, who at the time was a contract lawyer in San Francisco, and her husband, McDermott, Will & Emery partner Stephen Akerley, were the key drivers.

They were right about lawyers and books. Bay Area lawyers have deposited more than 10,000 books into donation bins in the 16 months since Bridge of Books began.