Florida lawyers may now report pro bono hours for CLE credit online
Florida lawyers provided more than 1.7 million hours of pro bono service to people in need and contributed more than $11 million to legal aid organizations, according to the latest Florida Bar figures.
The Supreme Court recently authorized Florida lawyers to receive one hour of general CLE credit for every hour of pro bono service performed, not to exceed five credits per three-year reporting cycle.
Now, Florida Bar members have easy online access to a two-page form to request the credit. “The Florida Bar Pro Bono Service Request for CLE Credit” is available here: Pro Bono Service Request for CLE Credit
Acting October 31 in In Re: Amendments to Rules Regulating The Florida Bar — Rule 6-10.3, the court amended Rule 6-10.3 to allow Florida lawyers to earn one hour of general CLE for every hour of pro bono service up to five credit hours for each three-year reporting cycle. The court, however, held no CLE credit can be awarded for monetary donations to legal aid providers.
The change became effective December 30, 2024, at 12:01 a.m., and only pro bono service performed after the effective date of this rule is eligible for this credit.
A comment to the rule provides helpful guidance, sponsors note:
Pro bono legal service to the poor is an integral and particular part of a lawyer’s pro bono public service responsibility. As our society has become one in which rights and responsibilities are increasingly defined in legal terms, access to legal services has become of critical importance. This is true for all people, be they rich, poor, or of moderate means. However, because the legal problems of the poor often involve areas of basic need, their inability to obtain legal services can have dire consequences. The vast unmet legal needs of the poor in Florida have been recognized by the Supreme Court of Florida and by several studies undertaken in Florida over the past 2 decades. The Supreme Court of Florida has further recognized the necessity of finding a solution to the problem of providing the poor greater access to legal service and the unique role of lawyers in our adversarial system of representing and defending persons against the actions and conduct of governmental entities, individuals, and nongovernmental entities. As an officer of the court, each member of The Florida Bar in good standing has a professional responsibility to provide pro bono legal service to the poor.
It continues:
“Pro bono legal service” means legal service rendered without charge or expectation of a fee for the lawyer at the time the service commences. Legal services written off as bad debts do not qualify as pro bono service. Most pro bono service should involve civil proceedings given that government must provide indigent representation in most criminal matters. Pro bono legal service to the poor is to be provided not only to those persons whose household incomes are below the federal poverty standard but also to those persons frequently referred to as the “working poor.” Lawyers providing pro bono legal service on their own need not undertake an investigation to determine client eligibility. Rather, a good faith determination by the lawyer of client eligibility is sufficient. Pro bono legal service to the poor need not be provided only through legal services to individuals; it can also be provided through legal services to charitable, religious, or educational organizations whose overall mission and activities are designed predominately to address the needs of the poor. For example, legal service to organizations such as a church, civic, or community service organizations relating to a project seeking to address the problems of the poor would qualify.
The Supreme Court issued its opinion in response to a petition submitted by The Florida Bar. Justices, however, modified the Bar’s request for four hours of pro bono service in exchange for one CLE credit to allow one credit for each hour of pro bono service.
The amendment was prompted by a letter from the Supreme Court in August 2023, requesting the Bar to explore the potential for CLE or professionalism credit linked to pro bono participation. This request followed a report from the Special Committee on Greater Public Access to Legal Services, which highlighted the need for improved access to legal services and the importance of pro bono work.
The Board of Governors unanimously supported the proposed changes, which aim to enhance participation in pro bono activities while maintaining high standards for membership. The move is part of a broader effort to address the challenges in providing legal services and to encourage lawyers to engage more deeply with their communities.
Florida lawyers provided more than 1.7 million hours of pro bono service to people in need and contributed more than $11 million to legal aid organizations, according to the latest Florida Bar figures.
