IDAHO RULE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY 6.1: VOLUNTARY PRO BONO PUBLICO SERVICE
Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal
services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to
render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per
year. In fulfilling this responsibility, the lawyer should:
(a) provide a substantial majority of the (50) hours of legal
services without fee or expectation of fee to:
(1) persons of limited means or
(2) charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental
and educational organizations in matters that are
designed primarily to address the needs of persons of
limited means; and
(b) provide any additional services through:
(1) delivery of legal services at no fee or substantially
reduced fee to individuals, groups or organizations
seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties
or public rights, or charitable, religious, civic,
community, governmental and educational
organizations in matters in furtherance of their
organizational purposes;
(2) delivery of legal services at a substantially reduced
fee to persons of limited means; or
(3) participation in activities for improving the law, the
legal system or the legal profession.
In addition, a lawyer should voluntarily contribute financial
support to organizations that provide legal services to persons
of limited means.
I do not do pro-bono work. None. Things given for free are not respected or valued. I think the idea of pro-bono service is degrading to lawyer and client alike. I have worked exceptionally hard to get to where I am. Additionally, every client is a person of value. Every client has something they can offer, and to treat a person otherwise is both untrue and degrading. Can you work on a truck, paint, bake an amazing cake, or design a website? Then you have something to barter. I have worked for food, guns, vehicles, silver, etc.
I hate the idea of a person being put to an unfair disadvantage because they can’t afford a lawyer. Don’t think you can afford a lawyer? Call me. We will try to work something out.