In an effort to ensure that low-income New Yorkers have access to legal services, the Administrative Board of the Courts, in 1997, adopted a Pro Bono Resolution urging attorneys to provide at least 20 hours of pro bono legal services to poor persons each year and to support financially the work of organizations that provide such services. Set forth below is the text of the Resolution.

Lawyers are strongly encouraged to provide pro bono legal services to benefit poor persons. Every lawyer should aspire (1) to provide at least 20 hours of pro bono legal services each year to poor persons and (2) to contribute financially to organizations that provide legal services to poor persons.

Pro bono legal services that meet this goal are:

• professional services rendered in civil matters, and in those criminal matters for which the government is not obliged to provide funds for legal representation, to persons who are financially unable to compensate counsel;
  
  
• activities related to improving the administration of justice by simplifying the legal process for, or increasing the availability and quality of legal services to, poor persons; and
  
  
• professional services to charitable, religious, civic and educational organizations in matters designed predominantly to address the needs of poor persons.

• organizations primarily engaged in the provision of legal services to the poor; and
  
  
• organizations substantially engaged in the provision of legal services to the poor, provided that the donated funds are to be used for the provision of such legal services.