What qualifies as pro bono under the Rule?
Why does the proposed pro bono definition only include legal work and not other charitable activities?
Does reduced fee service count as pro bono?
Who are ‘people of limited means’?
Does an attorney need to screen clients for income in order to consider it pro bono services?
Where can I find pro bono opportunities?
Why are financial contributions part of a pro bono Rule?
What type of donations qualify under the Rule?
Why is financial support of legal aid so important?
What about law firm contributions?
Where can I make a donation that qualifies under the Rule?
Does the pro bono reporting Rule apply to judges and government attorneys?
Can government or legal aid attorneys report any of their hours as pro bono hours under the Rule?
What will I be asked on my ARDC form?
Why do attorneys need to separately report our pro bono services by category of the type of pro bono service?
Will reported pro bono hours be made available to the public?
Does the Rule make pro bono service mandatory for Illinois attorneys?
I still have questions about the Rule. Where should I direct questions?
What information am I required to report?
Rule 756(f) requires all attorneys licensed in Illinois to report, for the preceding 12 month period: (1) pro bono legal services provided; and (2) qualified monetary contributions made. All attorneys must respond to both questions, even if they did not perform any pro bono work or make a qualified monetary contribution in the preceding 12 months.
What qualifies as pro bono under the Rule?
Supreme Court Rule 756(f) contains a broad definition that illustrates four distinct ways in which lawyers can use their unique training, experience and skills to help the public on a pro bono basis. Under the Rule, “pro bono legal services” include:
• Legal services to a person of limited means;
• Legal services to charitable, religious, civic, or community organizations designed to address the needs of persons of limited means;
• Legal services to charitable, religious, civic, or community organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purpose; and
• Pro bono training intended to benefit legal service organizations or lawyers who provide pro bono services.
Why does the proposed pro bono definition only include legal work and not other charitable activities?
The pro bono ethic is rooted in the unique skills possessed by lawyers, and a legal system that allows only licensed attorneys to practice. Community and charitable work is important and should be recognized; but the purpose of this Rule is to gain further understanding of the pro bono contributions made by Illinois lawyers.
Does reduced fee service count as pro bono?
Lawyers often perform work at substantially reduced fees for people who can’t afford services, and this is a laudable practice that is an essential part of providing access to justice for Illinois residents. However, this Rule applies only to pro bono services, i.e., “the delivery of legal services or the provision of training without charge or expectation of a fee,” as further defined in the Rule. The Rule does recognize that a lawyer can treat services as pro bono when the lawyer and client agree in advance that further services will be provided voluntarily in what previously was originally a billable matter. But where payment was expected and later becomes uncollectible, that does not count as pro bono services.
Who are ‘people of limited means’?
According to Rule 756(f), “persons of limited means” are not only those persons with household incomes below the federal poverty standard but also those persons frequently referred to as the “working poor.”
Does an attorney need to screen clients for income in order to consider it pro bono services?
No. The Rule makes clear that lawyers need not undertake an investigation to determine client eligibility. Rather, a good faith determination by the lawyer of client eligibility is sufficient.
Where can I find pro bono opportunities?
There are a number of helpful resources helpful resources for attorneys who want to do pro bono work but aren’t sure where to start. A To get started, visit the CBF's Pro Bono Opportunities page and IllinoisProBono.org for more information.
Why are financial contributions part of a pro bono Rule?
There is a great need for increased financial support for both full time legal aid attorneys and their organizations, as well as for the “infrastructure” to support pro bono (i.e., pro bono programs with solid screening, referral, training and support functions for volunteers). Including financial contributions as part of the Rule underscores that these contributions are a critical part of the pro bono delivery system as well.
What type of donations qualify under the Rule?
The Rule encourages attorneys to make financial contributions “to an organization that provides legal services to persons of limited means or which contributes financial support to such an organization.”
Why is financial support of legal aid so important?
Providing your financial support for local legal aid organizations is just as important an investment as donating your time, as lawyers depend on good legal aid organizations to be their partners in pro bono work. Legal aid organizations provide the necessary infrastructure to support pro bono work for area lawyers and law firms (i.e., pro bono programs with solid screening, referral, training and support functions for volunteers). Legal aid programs also provide critical legal assistance to the most vulnerable members of our community in matters where pro bono is not a practical solution.
What about law firm contributions?
The ARDC registration statement states that: “Many law firms make contributions as a firm. Because the information you are providing here will be aggregated to make it possible to report the legal profession’s financial support of legal services, we ask that you take care to report the total amount of firm contributions only once. A firm might agree to have one partner report the entire amount or to have the total divided and reported by several individuals. Also, a report can be made on behalf of the full firm using the instructions that appear at www.iardc.org.”
Where can I make a donation that qualifies under the Rule?
Lawyers can make qualifying contributions under the Rule to The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF), which supports all of the major pro bono and legal aid organizations serving the Chicago area, and by contributing directly to one of these many outstanding organizations. Click here for a list of organizations supported by the CBF. For those with offices outside of Cook County, more information on complying with the Rule is available at www.IllinoisProBono.org.
Does the pro bono reporting Rule apply to judges and government attorneys?
The comments recognize that some members of the profession are prohibited from performing legal services by constitutional, statutory, Rule, or regulatory prohibitions. The comment section encourages lawyers who fall into these categories to undertake activities that do not conflict with any prohibition preventing them from providing direct legal services, such as making a financial contribution to support the provision of legal services to the poor or participating in training programs for volunteer attorneys.
Can government or legal aid attorneys report any of their hours as pro bono hours under the Rule?
The Rule applies only to legal services that are provided without compensation or expectation of compensation. Thus, while we all recognize the financial sacrifices that legal aid and government attorneys make to pursue public service careers, any legal services provided as part of an attorney’s paid employment as a legal aid or government attorney should not be counted as pro bono hours under the Rule.
What will I be asked on my ARDC form?
Click here for a copy of the most recent ARDC Registration form.
Why do attorneys need to separately report our pro bono services by category of the type of pro bono service?
By reporting the approximate amount of pro bono an attorney has done in each of the four categories of pro bono service, we will be able to get a much better picture of the types of pro bono being done around the state, which will be a considerable help to the pro bono community in planning.
Will reported pro bono hours be made available to the public?
The Rule is clear that reporting will not be subject to public disclosure or use in any disciplinary context. The information about an individual attorney’s pro bono hours and financial contributions will only be reported, retained and disclosed in the aggregate.
Does the Rule make pro bono service mandatory for Illinois attorneys?
No. Pro bono service in Illinois is not mandatory. However, pro bono service is encouraged and the Rule requires mandatory reporting of your pro bono service and qualifying financial contributions.
I still have questions about the Rule. Where should I direct questions?
The CBF is here to help you with any questions you have about the Rule. Feel free to contact the CBF's Director of Pro Bono, Kelly Tautges, at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 312-554-8356.
