THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LawCrossing Legal Daily News Feature
Free Work Contribution Made Mandatory Precondition for NY Bar Enrollment On Tuesday, the Chief Judge of the State of New York, Jonathan Lippman, announced that from next year, New York would become the first state with a precondition for bar aspirants to contribute free legal work before being licensed to practice. The chief judge said that the rule would help the growing number of pending cases and people who cannot afford legal services. The close to 10,000 applicants to the NY bar every year would from now on need to prove at least 50 hours of pro bono service before getting enrolled at the state bar.
05/02/12
economic turmoil. Even people applying for disability benefits do not have a constitutional right to free legal representation.
The Chief Judge says the extraordinary measures are needed in face of rapidly changing socio-legaleconomic scenario where ordinary people are facing
Experts say that Judge Lippman’s decision may not
what is called a “triple whammy”: increasing numbers
be acceptable to most lawyers as lawyers cultivate
of people facing acute financial struggles; increasing
the spirit of independence and do not like being told
numbers of people requiring legal services to help with
what to do. Esther Lardent, president of the Pro Bono
foreclosures, evictions and credit and employment
Institute, a nonprofit group expressed his doubts about
problems; increasing numbers of state and federal
reluctant lawyers being of much help. “I worry about
financing sources continuing to dry up.
poor people with lawyers who don’t want to be there,” he said to the media.
The condition is so horrendous that the Legal Aid Society has to turn away eight out of every nine people
However, Judge Lippman said, “The legal profession
seeking legal help in civil matters. Steven Banks,
should not be seen as argumentative, narrow or
the attorney-in-chief of Legal Aid Society (NY group)
avaricious … but rather one that is defined by the
reported that since 2008, healthcare related legal aid
pursuit of justice and the desire to assist our fellow
requests have jumped by 40 percent, unemployment
man.”
insurance and work related claims have jumped by 54 percent, domestic violence remedy seeking has
Supporters of the policy point out that with the current
jumped by 16 percent, and foreclosure help requests
job situation in the market for fresh law graduates, the
have jumped by 8000 percent. While the constitutional
mandatory requirement for pro bono work would serve
right to free legal representation is available in case
as a blessing in disguise and allow all new graduates
of criminal defendants, the same is not applicable in
the opportunity of gaining 50 hours of real work-
the case of civil defendants regularly drowning in this
experience.
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