I know of a lawyer who is required by his firm to do a certain amount of pro bono work every year. I don’t know how much. But I know for a fact that’s he’s taking money from some of the clients, who are all poor people. He spends a day every other week at this place “helping” people, and usually comes back with fifty bucks or more. He says he only charges for some of the work he does, others he does for free.
But if its pro bono work, shouldn’t it ALL be free? Can I report this as a violation of ethics or law?
In my own jurisdiction I have to charge the equivalent of at least 200 USD minimum for every case, else it becomes a pro bono matter meaning we have to report to the Bar Council that we are doing so and are supervised etc etc . Perhaps he is taking a minimum amount to keep it technically non pro bono as he lacks some qualification
Also pro bono may mean several different things, in some cases people might be asked to pay the court fees for instance (which are nominal), but avoid Lawyers fees and other costs. Or fees are greatly reduced.
Bottom line, get more information before doing anything.
The legal work should be free, but often there are filing fees, costs to get court documents, etc. that the client may have to pay. Are you sure the money he’s collecting isn’t for this? You need more information.
Also, no state requires pro bono work. Any requirement is strictly between the attorney and his firm. The only thing that he could get in trouble for with the bar is reporting pro bono hours that weren’t actually pro bono hours.
If I may ask, what is your interest in this guy’s volunteer work? If he’s making the grand sum of fifty bucks, it’s not as if he is bilking poor people or something. Plus, your information is severely lacking, and getting him in trouble with his employer or with the bar seems a little excessive, especially if he hasn’t done anything at all.
That was actually the question that came up while I was reading the thread. Are lawyers REQUIRED to do pro bono work for their license? If what you say is true, and the guy is spending all day and coming home with fifty dollars, he pretty much volunteered his day. It makes me wonder why anyone would consider “reporting” him unless they feel like aren’t getting the free service they feel they are entitled to.
For all we know, he does the full amount of required pro bono work and doesn’t charge a cent for it, and ALSO does some additional work there that he charges a bit for (likely at a very reduced rate). Just because he does some pro bono work at that place doesn’t mean that he can ONLY do pro bono work at that place. Unless you know for certain that he’s actually charging for work that he claims is pro bono, you’re jumping to conclusions.
Interesting user name for someone who appears to not have all the facts.
No, I’m 100% positive he’s bringing it home, in cash. Sometimes it’s more than $50. like maybe $100. If you figure every other friday for a year, that’s $2600 he’s making for “pro bono” work. That may not seem like a lot, but it’s all coming from poor people who are going to a legal clinic.
I know it’s not a law that they have to do hours, but I figured there were rules about it. His firm has rules requiring them, though. He made them cause he was one of the original partners, and I just wanted to see if he was trying to cheat out of his own requirement.
Or not. Again, it’s quite possible he’s doing the all the required pro bono work for free, and then doing some additional work for a fee. Unless you know otherwise, I’d say it’s rather presumptuous to claim he’s making money for pro bono work.
How can you possibly see that if you don’t know what the requirements are and don’t know exactly what he’s doing?
Insult? Come now, that’s a wry observation on an ironic situation, and perhaps a mild tweak. Long way from insult in my book.
(b) Discharge of the Professional Responsibility to Provide Pro Bono Legal Service to the Poor. The professional responsibility to provide pro bono legal services as established under this rule **is aspirational rather than mandatory in nature. **The failure to fulfill one’s professional responsibility under this rule will not subject a lawyer to discipline.
Not really a “requirement”.
Look if you feel he is doing something wrong, report him. If he is taking advantage he deserves to be called out on it. If he isn’t then the has nothing to worry about.
I’d suggest you find out who the appropriate person to take action against this person is, and send them a letter anonymously.
The problem is if this guy is doing something shady, he probably learned to do it from his bosses
Fair enough, although there are sanctions for members who fail to report their pro bono work (there’s a section for it on the annual member dues form).
That’s a good idea. I am calling the IRS right now, I think this Markxxx guy might be cheating on his taxes. Surely, if he’s done nothing wrong, he doesn’t have anything to worry about. Right?
