Skip to content

Pro Bono Reporting 2023

Voluntary Pro Bono Reporting Form

The Missouri Bar believes pro bono work is an integral part of the legal profession. The Missouri Bar is urging all of its members to voluntarily report the pro bono services they provided during 2023 between January 1 and December 31.  Voluntary reporting is established to encourage lawyers to provide pro bono services and to determine the extent of pro bono services our members provide. The Board of Governors has an aspirational goal of 40 hours of pro bono work per year for every member of The Missouri Bar. In completing the reporting term, you should consider the following:
  • Reporting is voluntary and may be done anonymously.
  • Missouri lawyers may discharge their pro bono responsibilities through a variety of activities  (see DEFINITIONS below)
  • Legal services to the poor may be provided through an organized pro bono project or on an independent basis.
Pro bono services are those provided without an expectation of compensation or at a reduced fee.  If a client does not pay for services billed, those hours are not considered pro bono service.

The definitions below are guidelines.  You are the best one to interpret how they apply to your situation.

Attorneys who report over 40 hours annually of pro bono work in Category A will be recognized on The Missouri Bar Pro Bono Wall of Fame.
DEFINITIONS

"Individuals of limited means" shall include individuals with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; or any individual who has been approved by a court for in forma pauperis status; or any individual who has been referred to the attorney by an established charitable, tax exempt not-for-profit provider of legal services to low-income or otherwise disadvantaged persons; or any individual who has been referred to the attorney by a bar association-operated pro bono program serving low-income or otherwise disadvantaged persons.

A "reduced fee" shall not exceed one-half of the normal fee the attorney charges to paying clients to be a "Judicare fee" from either a Legal Services Corporation program or Samaritan Center Legal Care.  Reimbursement for actual expenses necessary to the representation shall not be used in the calculation of the reduced fee.

A "fee" shall not include reimbursement for actual expenses necessary to the representation.
I am prohibited by law, regulation, or my employer's policies from doing pro bono work.