Spotlight on pro bono

It is anticipated that the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) will be mailing the annual registration materials to all licensed Illinois attorneys in October.

As part of that process, attorneys must indicate the number of pro bono hours or qualified monetary contributions made during the preceding 12 months, as required under the recently amended Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(f).

The reporting requirement is intended to serve as an annual reminder to Illinois lawyers that pro bono legal service is an integral part of a lawyer's professionalism.

As defined in the rule, pro bono legal services include legal services without charge or expectation of a fee: a) to a person of limited means; b) to an organization designed to address the needs of persons of limited means; c) to certain charitable, religious, civic, or community organizations; and d) pro bono training intended to benefit legal service organizations or lawyers who provide pro bono services.

According to Rule 756(f), “persons of limited means” are not only those persons with household incomes below the federal poverty standard but also those persons frequently referred to as the “working poor.”

The rule also encourages attorneys to make monetary contributions to organizations that provide legal services to persons of limited means or that contribute financial support to such an organization.

The new reporting requirement consists of two questions that have been added to the annual Illinois ARDC registration form. All attorneys must respond to both questions, even if they did not perform any pro bono work or make a qualified monetary contribution in the preceding 12 months.

An attorney's failure to report the required information will result in an attorney's name being removed from the master roll of licensed attorneys in Illinois.

It is extremely important to note, however, that this is NOT mandatory pro bono. You can declare 0 hours or pro bono work and $0 in qualified monetary contributions.

The data is being confidentially collected and only reported in the aggregate so that your name would never be connected with what you report under the rule.

That being said, it really is our ethical obligation as attorneys to provide pro bono assistance to persons in need of legal services who cannot afford them. With only about 400 legal aid attorneys in the entire state, there is no way possible that the legal needs of all of the state's poor could be met without the help of pro bono attorneys.

Even handling only one case a year can make a difference in helping to met the legal needs of the poor. And your monetary support is critical to enabling the legal aid organizations to do their work.

There are a variety of pro bono opportunities to choose from. While there are limits, depending on where you reside in the state, there is just about something for everyone.

Whether you prefer transactional or litigation; civil or criminal; state court or federal court; short-term projects or longer matters; or legal assistance other than representation, there is something for you.

Most agencies in the state provide malpractice, training, support and other resources to assist you with your case and to help you expand your practice areas beyond your comfort zone.

Visit the state's premier resource for pro bono attorneys today at www.IllinoisProBono.org. This Web site lists all legal aid agencies in the state, what opportunities are available through them, and trainings provided, including those that are webcast and archived for later viewing.

There is also more information about the rule and where you can make a qualified monetary contribution. Best of all, it is available at no cost, so sign up today and get started on your new pro bono matter!

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