The State Bar Association of North Dakota Spring 2014 Gavel Magazine | Page 26

PRO BONO WORK OFFERS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL BENEFITS Just a few “working onhours the Senior Hotline can make a big difference. ” Two years ago, SBAND reactivated a Pro Bono Task Force to address both the ongoing needs for the legal profession to provide pro bono services, as well as specific concerns that relate to North Dakota’s growing population and funding concerns for existing programs. The task force wants to build a culture of pro bono in the state that focuses on manpower and money, says Bismarck attorney Levi Andrist, who heads the task force. In building this culture, task force members hope more lawyers will step up to provide services, contribute funds to the Bar Foundation, and support state and national legislation that would increase funding for Legal Services of North Dakota. And while there is a professional responsibility for lawyers to provide pro bono services, Andrist says doing so provides both personal and professional benefits for lawyers, including: BENEFIT 1: Earning CLE credit North Dakota attorneys may receive CLE credit for performing uncompensated legal services for clients unable to afford counsel. Details are outlined in SBAND’s CLE Policy 1.19, which states the services must be performed under the auspices of a legal assistance program approved by SBAND’s CLE Commission, such as Legal Services of North Dakota, or SBAND’s pro bono program. It further states that credit may be earned at the rate of 1.0 hour of CLE credit for every 6.0 hours of uncompensated legal services performed. An attorney may receive no more than 3.0 CLE credit hours under this policy in any one year of the attorney’s reporting period. Credit may also be earned at the same rate, and subject to the same limit for service as an uncompensated mentor attorney to an attorney providing uncompensated legal services under the auspices of an approved legal assistance program. BENEFIT 2: Receiving professional recognition The new SBAND “Justice for All” lawyer program will recognize members who provide 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services per year. Starting in 2014, lawyers who reach that level of volunteer hours for the previous year will be recognized as a “Justice for All” lawyer. The pro bono hours include legal services provided to low-income individuals at no fee and without expectation of a fee. The program recognizes the pro bono work reported to SBAND. Lawyers who report 50 hours or more annually will be included on an annual roster published in the SBAND Gavel magazine. They will also receive a certificate suitable for framing and will be invited to an event honoring all award recipients.