1	The Pro Bono Requirement An On-line Orientation Florida State University College of Law
2	Overview Part I - An Introduction to Pro Bono Service Part II - A Summary of FSU College of Law’s Pro Bono Program Part III - Professionalism: The Florida Bar’s Guidelines for Professional Conduct Part IV - Getting Started
3	Part One An Introduction to Pro Bono Service
4	What is Pro Bono Service? Pro bono service is defined as legal work designed to present a position on behalf of the public at large on matters of public interest. Pro bono service does not include the direct representation of litigants in actions between private persons, corporations, or others in which the financial interests at stake would warrant representation from private legal sources.
5	The Importance of Pro Bono Service The legal profession is, at its foundation, about service: service to individuals, to organizations, and to private and public entities. "Public service," however, has a special meaning for the legal profession. This meaning may be debatable around the edges, but at its core is the responsibility of the profession to insure access to justice for all by meeting not only the legal needs of those who can afford a lawyer but also the legal needs of those individuals and communities that cannot.
6	"FSU College of law is..." FSU College of law is not unique in its recognition of the importance of pro bono service by its students. In recent years, more than 100 law schools throughout the nation have implemented structured school-wide pro bono programs and/or pro bono opportunities for their law students.
7	A Sampling of Law Schools with Pro Bono Requirements Columbia University Florida State University Georgetown University Northeastern University University of Maryland University of Pennsylvania University of Washington Valparaiso University William & Mary College
8	Why Is Pro Bono Required? The American Bar Association (ABA) has set forth a lawyer’s pro bono responsibility in Model Rule 6.1, which encourages lawyers to aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services per year without fee or expectation of fee to persons of limited means or to organizations designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means. In Florida, Rule 4-6.1 of the Florida Bar Rules provides that pro bono service is part of the lawyer’s professional responsibility.
9	How Pro Bono Service Benefits the Student Increase knowledge Gain practical experience Develop fundamental skills and values Explore alternative career opportunities Establish mentorship relationships
10	Listing Pro Bono Service on Your Resume For many students, pro bono experience may be the only legal-related experience they have at this early stage in their law school careers. Include pro bono service on your resume, listing where you worked and the nature of the work you performed.
11	Mentorship Opportunities Pro Bono service provides law students the opportunity to work closely with attorneys serving the public interest on a variety of interesting and important issues. Many students develop strong working relationships with the attorneys they assist and these connections extend beyond the time they work on the pro bono project.
12	Part Two A Summary of the Florida State University College of Law’s Pro Bono Program
13	Pro Bono Service is a Graduation Requirement In order to graduate from the College of Law, students are REQUIRED to complete 20 hours of pro bono service. Students who elect to complete 40 or more hours receive a certificate of Outstanding Pro Bono Service.
14	Students must be in their second or third year to receive credit for pro bono hours. For the purposes of the pro bono program, you will be considered a 2L after you take your last final exam this Spring. Many students choose to do their pro bono the summer after their first year.
15	How Pro Bono Work is Defined by the College of Law To qualify as pro bono work, it must meet these conditions: Cannot receive compensation for work Work must be completed under supervision of an attorney Nature of work must be on behalf of the public interest and civil in nature* *with limited exceptions
16	Receive No Compensation
17	Attorney Supervision All pro bono service must be supervised by an attorney, who then verifies that you have completed your hours by signing a Pro Bono Completion Form.
18	Nature of the Work To receive credit for your pro bono service, the work must be on behalf of: Disadvantaged minority; Victims of racial, sexual, or other forms of discrimination; Those denied human and civil rights or; Other work on behalf of the public interest
19	Civil in Nature The pro bono service generally must be civil in nature. There are limited exceptions to this rule: It is now acceptable to receive pro bono credit for working with a Public Defender’s Office or working for a State Attorney’s Office
20	Identifying a Pro Bono Site There are a variety of opportunities available to you, including but not limited to: Private Law Firms Non-Profit Organizations Working with faculty members on special projects
21	Identifying a Pro Bono Site For your convenience, the Student Affairs Office maintains a list of pre-approved sites, most of which are located here in Tallahassee. This list is available in Room 206 and online at:
22	Identifying a Pro Bono Site Students are able to perform pro bono service at countless locations. Service can be conducted anywhere in the country, provided the nature of the work falls within the parameters of the program.
23	Pre-Approved Sites The Pre-Approved Sites List contains information about organizations that are familiar with the College of Law pro bono program and able to accommodate law students. Law students have had many successful experiences at these sites. It is still your responsibility to contact the supervising attorney to inquire if they have any pro bono opportunities. Not all locations have opportunities at all times.
24	Pre-Approved Sites Some of the most popular pre-approved sites include: Family Law Assistance Program Teen Court Trust for Public Land Guardian Ad Litem Children’s Advocacy Center EarthJustice Legal Environment Assistance Foundation
25	Other Locations You are not limited to sites on the Pre-Approved Sites lists. If you identify an opportunity elsewhere, submit the Pro Bono Registration Form to the Student Affairs Office, Room 206, BEFORE you complete any hours. We will ensure that the site is acceptable and sign-off that you will receive credit for hours performed at that location. We return the signed form to you in your mail folder. Save your copy for your records.
26	Other Locations If you find a pro bono opportunity at a site that is not pre-approved, fill out the yellow Pro-Bono Registration Form, found in Room 206 and online at
27	Types of Responsibilities The types of work students perform depends on the chosen site. Generally students are involved in: Researching Writing memoranda Preparing for trial Drafting documents Investigating Interviewing
28	Receiving Credit Once you have completed your hours at a location, you need to submit the green Pro Bono Completion Form.
29	Receiving Credit If you work for multiple locations, you must submit a separate form for each location. The form requires your supervising attorney to sign off on the total number of hours performed. You do not need to hand in a time-sheet. Submit the form to the Student Affairs Office. Within several days, you will receive a signed copy of the form in your mail folder. Save your copy for your records.
30	Pro Bono Deadline Your 20 hours of pro bono service must be completed 30 days before you plan to graduate. You will not be certified to graduate until you have met the pro bono requirement. Plan ahead!
31	Part Three
32	Florida Bar Rules Upon completion of this Pro Bono Orientation, you will receive a copy of the Florida Bar Rules for Professional Conduct.
33	Rules of Professional Conduct The Florida Bar has established rules that govern the relationship between lawyers and their clients. The following slides present an overview of some of those regulations that you should be familiar with when doing your pro bono work.
34	Rule 4-1.1 Competence A lawyer shall provide competent representation to a client. Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness, and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation.
35	4-1.2 (e) Scope of Representation Limitation on Lawyer’s Conduct When a lawyer knows or reasonably should know that a client expects assistance not permitted by the Rules of Professional Conduct or by law, the lawyer shall consult with the client regarding the relevant limitations on the lawyer’s conduct.
36	Rule 4-1.3 Diligence A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence in representing a client.
37	Rule 4-1.4(a) Communication Informing Client of Status of Representation A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.
38	Rule 4-1.6 Confidentiality of Information Consent Required to Reveal Information A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to representation of a client (except under limited circumstances) unless the client consents after disclosure to the client. Limited circumstances are set forth in subdivisions (b), (c) and (d) of the rule.
39	Rule 4-1.7 Conflict of Interest Representing Adverse Interests A lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation of that client will be directly adverse to the interests of another client unless The lawyer reasonably believes the representation will not adversely affect the lawyer’s responsibilities to and relationship with the other client; and Each client consents after consultation.
40	Rule 4-2.1 Adviser In representing a client, a lawyer shall exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice. In rendering advice the lawyer may refer not only to law but to other considerations such as moral, economic, social and political factors that may be relevant to the client’s situation.
41	Rule 4-3.3 Candor Toward the Tribunal False Evidence: Duty to Disclose A lawyer shall not knowingly: Make false statement of material fact or law to a tribunal Fail to disclose a material fact Fail to disclose legal authority in controlling jurisdiction known to be adverse to position Permit any witness to offer testimony known to be false
42	Rule 4-3.4 Fairness to Opposing Party and Counsel Fair competition in the adversary system is secured by prohibitions against destruction or concealment of evidence, improperly influencing witnesses, obstructive tactics in discovery procedure, and the like. See rule for specific prohibitions.
43	Rule 4-4.1 Truthfulness in Statements to Others In the course of representing a client a lawyer shall not knowingly: Make false statement of material fact or law to a third person; or Fail to disclose a material fact to a third person when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting a criminal or fraudulent act by a client unless disclosure is prohibited by rule 4-1.6.
44	Rule 4-6.1 Pro Bono Public Service Each member of the Florida Bar in good standing, as part of that member’s professional responsibility, should Render pro bono legal services to the poor and Participate, to the extent possible, in other pro bono service activities that directly relate to the legal needs of the poor.
45	FL Bar Rules for Professional Conduct You will receive a copy of the Florida Bar Rules for Professional Conduct upon completion of this orientation and submission of the Pro Bono Orientation Certification Form. Make sure to pick up a copy of the Rules from the Student Affairs Office when you submit your Certification Form.
46	Part Four Getting Started
47	Receive Credit for Orientation Print out the Pro Bono Orientation Certification Form and submit to Office of Student Affairs, Room 206. You will not receive credit for any pro bono hours performed until we receive your signed certification form.
48	If You Have Any Questions… Contact: Office of Student Affairs Room 206 644-7338 Nancy Benavides, Associate Dean for Student Affairs Nbenavid@law.fsu.edu