Bar Applicant - Did 0 hours of Pro Bono - What now? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just graduated and sitting for the July Bar. Need to do 50 hours to get licensed in my jurisdiction. Going to a big firm in September. How do I go about doing my pro bono in advance? I feel like my employer will be pretty unhappy if I delay my licensing, so I want to complete it during the summer. Should I just reach out to my school and see if they can help me find something where I can do like a few hours a week or something?

[sublime]

Are you sure you haven't? At least in NY they have a broad definition. Does your firm do pro bono work?

[Anonymous User]

Are you sure you haven't? At least in NY they have a broad definition. Does your firm do pro bono work?

Yea I'm positive I haven't. I didn't take any on during my SA, and I worked in-house during 1L.

My firm does do pro-bono work, but would waiting to get to my firm be a good idea? I feel like I'll probably be drowning in billables anyway at that time.

[Man from Nantucket]

Are you sure you haven't? At least in NY they have a broad definition. Does your firm do pro bono work?

Yea I'm positive I haven't. I didn't take any on during my SA, and I worked in-house during 1L.

My firm does do pro-bono work, but would waiting to get to my firm be a good idea? I feel like I'll probably be drowning in billables anyway at that time.

You do your pro bono at the firm when you start. That's what I did, the firm won't care.

[Winter is Coming]

Are you sure you haven't? At least in NY they have a broad definition. Does your firm do pro bono work?

Yea I'm positive I haven't. I didn't take any on during my SA, and I worked in-house during 1L.

My firm does do pro-bono work, but would waiting to get to my firm be a good idea? I feel like I'll probably be drowning in billables anyway at that time.

They're also really generous with clinic work. The work I did doesn't scream "pro bono" but the Bar people have no problem counting it.

[Anonymous User]

1) You will not be admitted by September and 2) you likely will have time to do pro bono at your firm, especially in the beginning. IMHO I would focus on the bar and not sweat about pro bono.

[Anonymous User]

They're also really generous with clinic work. The work I did doesn't scream "pro bono" but the Bar people have no problem counting it.

Didn't do any clinics

1) You will not be admitted by September and 2) you likely will have time to do pro bono at your firm, especially in the beginning. IMHO I would focus on the bar and not sweat about pro bono.

Yea, I already have enough on my plate with the bar and then I'm traveling right after it ends.

You do your pro bono at the firm when you start. That's what I did, the firm won't care.

Thanks, this is reassuring.

I just felt nervous because everyone I know has at least some pro-bono. Haven't met anyone else with 0 hours.

[Anonymous User]

Double post sorry

[NoLongerALurker]

They're also really generous with clinic work. The work I did doesn't scream "pro bono" but the Bar people have no problem counting it.

Didn't do any clinics

1) You will not be admitted by September and 2) you likely will have time to do pro bono at your firm, especially in the beginning. IMHO I would focus on the bar and not sweat about pro bono.

Yea, I already have enough on my plate with the bar and then I'm traveling right after it ends.

You do your pro bono at the firm when you start. That's what I did, the firm won't care.

Thanks, this is reassuring.

I just felt nervous because everyone I know has at least some pro-bono. Haven't met anyone else with 0 hours.

If you're going NY biglaw, there will certainly be people in your class who aren't admitted until well into next year (like...there are associates at my firm who aren't admitted yet who started in August). 100% chance they don't expect you to be admitted right away, so just jump on pro bono the first month you're there and knock it out.

[Night_L]

You can do the pro bono work after you start. At worst you will be admitted a few weeks or even months later than most of your peers. I know people who weren't admitted for various reason until the next spring or even summer. It's not like you are going to be signing anything for a couple years anyway. No one cares.

[Mickfromgm]

Bar results won't come out until 10/28 or thereabouts, if you are in NY. Depending of the department, most people can't (or don't) file their admissions papers until they pass. There's plenty of time to fulfill the pro bono requirement after taking the bar exam, even before starting your new job. I don't recommend doing anything that would distract from studying for the bar. It's not the hardest thing in the world, but definitely isn't something you want to do more than once. And you'd forever be known as the guy who failed the bar . . . not good, dude.

[jkpolk]

I worked part time during August, after the bar, at a low income legal services clinic for all 50 hours. Your law school's pro bono coordinator will hook you up if you sound desperate enough.

[Anonymous User]

^OP here, ah thanks everyone for the advice. I guess I'll hold off from doing anything while studying for the bar. Unfortunately I leave for my bar trip right after the bar and don't come back until a few days before I start work, so it looks like I'll have to try to get some pro bono matters from the firm.

[2014]

If you are going to a large firm you are probably overestimating how much they care about when you get admitted. A majority of your class won't be admitted before May or so of your first year, and several/many won't be admitted one year in. I did most of my pro bono hours after starting and no one cared.