What is Pro Bono Partners? The Pro Bono Partners Project is a joint project of the Legal Assistants Division of the State Bar of Texas, and the State Bar Standing Committee on Legal Assistants to foster increased participation in pro bono services across the state, as identified by Texas Lawyers Care in its Attorneys Guide to Pro Bono Opportunities. It is hoped that legal assistants will approach lawyers about this team concept in taking on a pro bono case.
What is Pro Bono Services? The State Bar of Texas Board of Directors adopted the following Pro Bono Policy Resolution and Definition on May 28, 1992:
BE IT RESOLVED, that each Texas attorney should aspire to render at least 50 hours of pro bono publico services to the poor each year. Pro bono publico services include the following:
(a) the direct provision of legal services to the poor, without an expectation of compensation, whether civil or criminal;
(b) uncompensated services related to simplifying the legal process for, or increasing the availability and quality of legal services to, poor persons;
(c) uncompensated legal services rendered to charitable, public interest organizations with respect to matters or projects designed predominantly to address the needs of poor persons;
(d) uncompensated legislative, administrative or systems advocacy services provided on behalf of poor persons; or
(e) unsolicited, involuntary appointed representation of indigents in criminal and civil matters.
What is Texas Lawyers Care? The Texas Lawyers Care is a part of the Public Services Division of the State Bar of Texas and assists groups in the development and expansion of pro bono projects which provide free legal services to low-income persons. Texas Lawyers Care will be recording the pro bono service hours. The team contributing the most hours from June 1998 through May 1999 will be recognized at the 1999 State Bar Annual Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas.
To facilitate this project, a grant was obtained from the Texas Bar Foundation. It is hoped that this effort will be a win-win-win, in that it assists those in need of legal services who do not have access to legal help, it creates a team environment to demonstrate how legal assistants can work with lawyers, and it contributes to the goals of the State Bar.
Local districts within the Legal Assistants Division as well as local bar and legal assistant associations can become actively involved and contribute to the pro bono effort by hosting a meeting to invite their local attorneys and and local legal services organizations to take one case at the meeting.
For more information or questions about Pro Bono Partners, please contact Jodye Kasher at (214) 369-1300 or Kristine Farmer at (214) 369-1321.