Pro Bono Related Rules of Professional Conduct

In an effort to ensure that New Yorkers of low-income and modest means have access to legal services, the Appellate Divisions of the Supreme Court promulgated Rule 6.1 and Rule 6.5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, effective April 1, 2009.

Rule 6.1 strongly encourages attorneys to provide at least 20 hours of pro bono legal services each year and to support financially the work of organizations that provide such services.

Rule 6.5 dispenses with compliance with conflict of interest requirements in limited legal services programs where the attorney has no actual knowledge at the time of commencement of the representation that the representation of the client involves a conflict of interest.