Indiana
Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 imposes a duty on each lawyer to provide
“public interest legal service,” and comment 1 sets the goal at fifty hours a
year.
In September, the Court added Rule
of Professional Conduct 6.7 by this order.
As part of our annual registration, we’ll be required to report “reportable
pro bono legal services for the previous calendar year ending December 31.”
We’ll also be required to report financial contributions to qualifying legal
service organizations.
Reportable pro bono legal services means free legal services provided for people “reasonably perceived to be of limited means.” Limited means includes people with household incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty line. This is narrower than the categories described by Rule 6.1, which also mentions work at a reduced fee, public service, and activities improving the law, the legal system, or the legal profession.
Failure to report pro bono hours
(even if the number is zero) may subject a lawyer to discipline. And the Court
will not publicly disclose information on either an individual or firmwide
basis.
This requirement will begin
with reporting 2015 pro bono hours during the fall 2016 annual registration. Starting January 1, make sure to keep track of your pro
bono hours and contributions to qualified legal-service organizations
(including the Indiana Bar Foundation, pro
bono districts listed here, and groups listed at Ind. Code
§ 33‑37‑3‑2(b)—i.e., “Indiana
Legal Services or another civil legal aid program,” like Indianapolis Legal Aid Society) for accurate
reporting.
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