Providing pro bono services has become a practice which many attorneys consider an individual ethical commitment. Indeed, it is a commitment and a responsibility. Pro bono work not only assists individuals in desperate need of legal services, but it also enhances the public image of attorneys in Louisiana.

The new Rules of Professional Conduct became effective on March 1, 2004. We appreciate all the work pro bono attorneys do, and hope you will take the challenge to meet the 50 hour goal. Remember that 50 is the goal, not the limit!

Rule 6.1: Voluntary Pro Bono Publico Service
Every lawyer should aspire to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at
least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year. In fulfilling this aspirational goal the lawyer should:
(a) provide a substantial majority of the (50) hours of legal services without fee or expectation of fee to:
(1) persons of limited means or
(2) charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters that
are designated primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; and
(b) provide any additional services through:
(1) delivery of legal services at no fee or substantially reduced fee to individuals, groups or
organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights, or charitable, religious, civic,
community, governmental and educational organizations in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes,
where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization’s economic resources or
would be otherwise inappropriate;
(2) delivery of legal services at a substantially reduced fee to persons of limited means; or
(3) participation in activities for improving the law, legal system or the legal profession.