The State Bar Association of North Dakota Fall 2013 Gavel Magazine | Page 32

MELVIN WEBSTER RULE 3.1 continued from pg. 9 Webster no longer volunteers for the organization or when the organization no longer requires his services. Rule 3.1 requires that a lawyer not be paid for his work, but allows the legal services organization to cover the volunteer’s actual expenses, if it so chooses. While Rule 3.1 restricts a lawyer’s ability to practice, other requirements normally imposed on lawyers in active status are lifted. For example, there is no fee imposed on lawyers applying to practice under the Rule. Also, lawyers admitted under Rule 3.1 are not required to undertake Continuing Legal Education courses unless the legal services organization for 30 which they volunteer requires it. In this instance, Webster will be encouraged to attend the two CLE seminars offered by Legal Services each year. Rule 3.1 gave Webster a chance to return to his roots and give back to the legal services organization that helped start his legal career. The Rule provides experienced lawyers an opportunity to volunteer their time without having to go through the long process of bar re-admittance. Legal services organizations will benefit from the much-needed aid these lawyers can provide. And hopefully, Webster is the first of many to take advantage of the Rule and provide an immeasurable benefit to their communities and to the State Bar Association of North Dakota. “ Either your an active attorney...or you quit, and I decided to quit. ” The Gavel Fall 2013