Pro Bono Reporting Information
By Our Supreme Court notes “Equal Justice Under Law” on its building. Yet, access to this justice only truly exists when it is available to all members of our state, regardless of ability to pay. A failure to provide adequate legal services to those of modest means affects both the economic and social fabric of our society and does not adequately represent the principles of the profession to which we have been called.
Pro bono is one way for attorneys to help narrow the access to justice gap. We would like to capture your service and celebrate your pro bono work! We especially look forward to hearing about your pro bono legal services in 2021, including those provided through the North Carolina Bar Association and Foundation projects like Free Legal Answers, Wills for Heroes, and NC LEAP.
The NC Pro Bono Resource Center is currently accepting information about the types of activities encouraged by North Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1: pro bono legal service; legal service at a substantially reduced fee; activity that improves the law, the legal system, or the legal profession; non-legal community service; and financial support of legal service providers.
To report, you will need to share the total number of pro bono legal service hours you provided in 2021 – this is the only activity from Rule 6.1 that leads to recognition through the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society. Questions about other activities from Rule 6.1 only require general information about participation. You will also need your North Carolina State Bar ID Number to submit their entry. You can report your hours at ncprobono.org/report. The deadline to report is March 31, 2022.
North Carolina licensed attorneys (or attorneys who provide services under North Carolina Pro Bono Practice Status) who report at least 50 hours of pro bono legal service in a year will be inducted into that year’s cohort of the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society and receive a certificate from the Supreme Court of North Carolina recognizing their achievement. You may elect to opt out of recognition if preferred.
Additionally, for the first time, North Carolina paralegals may also report their pro bono information to the Pro Bono Resource Center – those who report providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services in 2021 will be recognized through the North Carolina Paralegal Pro Bono Honor Society. Paralegals interested in sharing their information can learn more and submit their information at ncprobono.org/report.
For more information about the Pro Bono Resource Center and voluntary pro bono reporting, please visit ncprobono.org/report.
We look forward to celebrating your good work!
Sylvia Novinsky is the Director of the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center.