A “pro bono legal services provider” may be a qualified legal services provider, certified lawyer referral service, court-based self-help center, or a nonprofit that provides free legal services to or on behalf of indigent Californians and has been approved by the State Bar as a pro bono legal services provider for the purposes of the Pro Bono Practice Program.
A nonprofit that is not already a qualified legal services provider, certified lawyer referral service, or court-based self-help center may be approved by the State Bar as a pro bono legal services provider if it provides free legal services to or on behalf of indigent Californians and annually provides the following to the State Bar for review:
See State Bar Rule 3.325(C).
Organizations that want to be approved as a pro bono legal services provider should email ProgramDevelopment@calbar.ca.gov or call 415-538-2252.
A “qualified legal services provider” receives or is eligible to receive funds from the Legal Services Trust Fund Program as either:
See State Bar Rule 3.325 (C).
A list of qualified providers that receive funds from the Legal Services Trust Fund Program is available on the State Bar’s website.
Under the Pro Bono Practice program, a “certified lawyer referral service” is a no-fee panel or pro bono panel or clinic of a lawyer referral service certified by the State Bar as meeting statutory criteria. (Business & Professions Code § 6155).
See a list of certified lawyer referral services.
For the Pro Bono Practice Program, a "court-based self-help center" is a self-help program that is in compliance with California Rule of Court 10.960.
You can find a list of family facilitators, self-help centers and small claim advisers on the Judicial Council of California website.
No. Qualified attorneys come from all practice areas, settings and levels of experience. Common areas of practice by legal services providers include government benefits, family law, guardianship, immigration, housing, consumer law and elder law. Most providers offer training with free CLE credit, training manuals and other supports for pro bono attorneys.
Yes. All attorneys who have an active status must meet MCLE requirements. Many QLSPs, certified LRSs, and court self-help centers provide free live and online training with MCLE credit to support Pro Bono Practice Attorneys. PBPP participants also have access to free or discounted rates to attend MCLE programs sponsored by Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) and Practising Law Institute(PLI).
No. A Pro Bono Practice Program participant must provide legal services exclusively as a Pro Bono Practice attorney and not engage in activities that require active status.
See State Bar Rule 3.329 (A).
No. A Pro Bono Practice attorney and a provider can determine the number of hours of pro bono services, but the State Bar recommends a minimum of 100 hours per year.
See State Bar Rule 3.330 (F).
Qualified legal services providers generally have malpractice coverage for volunteers.
A new application and sworn statement must be submitted annually for the Pro Bono Practice Program during the State Bar billing cycle when attorneys pay their annual fee.
Yes. Each provider must submit the application, sworn statement and declaration forms.
Maybe. If an attorney paid the annual fee (either active or inactive fee) and then enrolls in the Pro Bono Practice Program before the deadline of the first business day in February, the fee will be refunded for that year. Partial refunds are not available.
If an attorney is no longer eligible to be enrolled in the Pro Bono Practice Program, he or she must notify the provider and the State Bar within 30 calendar days. The attorney will then need to work with Division of Regulation to pay the active fee.
See State Bar Rule 3.329.
Yes. An attorney whose State Bar status is active may provide pro bono services at any time.
There are many pro bono opportunities throughout the state. See our web page for more information about pro bono opportunities in California. Contact individual organizations for more specific information about their pro bono opportunities. You also can contact the State Bar at 415-538-2528 or programdevelopment@calbar.ca.gov for more information.