Regulation 103(g) Pro Bono Legal Services

A member may earn up to six (6) hours of credit annually by certifying that the member has fulfilled the following requirements under the auspices of a qualified legal services provider:

1. Each attorney seeking CLE credit will have received at least two (2) hours of education, under the auspices of a qualified legal services provider, which may consist of:

1. not less than two (2) hours of training with live presentation(s); or

2. not less than two (2) hours viewing or listening individually to video or audio tapes approved by the CLE Board; or

3. any combination of the foregoing training; or (iv) serving as a mentor to a participating attorney who has completed the foregoing training; and

(2) Each attorney seeking CLE credit also will have subsequently completed not less than four (4) hours of pro bono work in providing direct representation to a low-income client(s) through a qualified legal services provider or in serving as a mentor to other participating attorney(s) who are providing such direct representation.

 The Board of Governors approved the proposed definition of qualified legal services provider for Reg. 103(g) as: a not for profit organization whose primary purpose is to provide legal services to low income clients.

Pro bono work will not qualify for CLE credit except for 4 hours of work providing direct representation to low-income clients following 2 hours of pro bono training through a qualified legal services provider, for a maximium of 6 credits per year, or by serving as a mentor to a participating attorney as described in Regulation 103(g). The supervising attorney, in order to earn credits, must be mentoring for the qualified legal service provider when supervising the attorney doing the actual pro bono work. Pro bono credits are not ethics credits: they are general CLE credits. The training course must be approved just like any other CLE seminar. To claim pro bono credits, simply report the pro bono training and pro bono work on your CLE reporting form at the end of your 3-year reporting period.