Why Volunteer?

Why should you volunteer through the Pro Bono Partnership? Because our program is uniquely structured to address the needs of busy inside counsel and transactional attorneys:

Volunteering through the Partnership:

• Provides an invaluable service to the community
• Offers personal and professional enrichment
• Generates goodwill for your company/law firm

Our pro bono matters are:

• discrete and manageable
• nonlitigation matters that are generally not subject to any time deadlines
• consistent with the legal skills you use on a daily basis

Also, the Partnership:

• provides liability insurance coverage for all volunteer attorneys
• can pair you with other in-house or private counsel on appropriate matters
• provides forms, supervision, backup and coordination through its in-house staff experienced in the law of non-profit and tax-exempt organizations

For NJ Attorneys - Partnership Volunteers in New Jersey May Be Eligible for Exemption from Mandatory Pro Bono

In January 2001, the Supreme Court of New Jersey approved Pro Bono Partnership's request for status as an approved legal service provider. As a result, attorneys in New Jersey may claim exemption from mandatory court-appointed pro bono cases if they have provided 25 or more hours of voluntary pro bono service through the Partnership's program.

Attorneys who provide 25 hours of volunteer service in one calendar year to the Partnership will be able to claim an exemption from a mandatory pro bono assignment in the following year. This exemption will be in effect for court assignments in starting in 2002.

To claim an exemption, Partnership volunteers who have provided at least 25 hours of pro bono assistance for nonprofit clients of the Partnership, should sign the certification on the annual IOLTA questionnaire and certification page that is circulated to members of the bar during the summer months. If there is any question about the number of hours provided, please contact the Partnership. Assuming that volunteers have shared their hours with us, the Partnership maintains this information in our database.

NY Attorneys can receive CLE Credit by Volunteering with the Partnership

The Pro Bono Partnership has been approved as a Pro Bono CLE Provider by the New York State CLE Board. Thus, attorneys who provide pro bono legal service through the Partnership for our New York nonprofit clients can receive up to six New York CLE credits every two years (newly admitted attorneys can carry over pro bono CLE credit to the following biennial reporting cycle). 

Also, pro bono activities performed through the Partnership for NY clients after January 1, 2000 may be granted retroactive approval.

The NY CLE Rules require attorneys to submit an affirmation to the Partnership that includes a description of the services and the number of hours spent on the project and to retain time records for four years.  We will be happy to provide interested attorneys with a form affirmation. The Partnership will also provide attorneys with a letter of participation. 

If you have any questions or would like more information about this program, please contact Maurice K. Segall, Esq. at the Partnership at (914)328-0674 or msegall@probonopartner.org

For more information on the pro bono CLE Board Regulations and Guidelines, go to 
http://www.nysba.org/Content/NavigationMenu/CLE/MandatoryCLERules/Mandatory_CLE.htm