Top Law Schools

Do hours from a clerkship satisfy the NY Pro Bono requirement or does compensation preclude it?

Thanks

HopefulLawClerk wrote:Do hours from a clerkship satisfy the NY Pro Bono requirement or does compensation preclude it?

Thanks

I’m not sure what you’re asking? As a clerk, you do not provide clients legal services free of charge. So no, your job as a law clerk does not count as pro bono. You can satisfy the requirement through a law school clinic though.

I was wondering about that too. The applicable rule talks about "Supervision required." - "In the case of a clerkship or externship in a court system, by a judge or attorney employed by the court system."

I was wondering about that too. The applicable rule talks about "Supervision required." - "In the case of a clerkship or externship in a court system, by a judge or attorney employed by the court system."

TEIAM wrote:

HopefulLawClerk wrote:Do hours from a clerkship satisfy the NY Pro Bono requirement or does compensation preclude it?

Thanks

I’m not sure what you’re asking? As a clerk, you do not provide clients legal services free of charge. So no, your job as a law clerk does not count as pro bono. You can satisfy the requirement through a law school clinic though.

I stand corrected. I re-read the rules and faq and you may be right. Without question, an externship with a judge counts. Additionally, post-graduate salaried work counts as long as it qualifies. So you’d be in the clear with a clerkship. Seems silly to me.

“28. May I count qualifying work performed in a full-time salaried position with a law firm, government agency or legal services provider following law school graduation?
Work performed during full-time legal employment prior to admission to the bar will satisfy the 50-hour Requirement if such activities otherwise comply with the definition of qualifying pro bono work. For instance, if you commence employment at a law firm after taking the bar examination and you are assigned to work with an attorney at the firm who is handling a pro bono case, your work on that pro bono litigation will qualify, provided that the client is not paying for the legal services.”

If you clerk outside NY, but wish to take the NY bar or have already taken, does that count or does the pro bono hours have to be in NY.

Anonymous User wrote:If you clerk outside NY, but wish to take the NY bar or have already taken, does that count or does the pro bono hours have to be in NY.

Volunteer work does not have to be in NY.

HopefulLawClerk wrote:Do hours from a clerkship satisfy the NY Pro Bono requirement or does compensation preclude it?

Thanks

Incidentally, I had the same question, and here is the response I received when I contacted ProBonoRule@nycourts.gov:


Both paid and unpaid legal work for a judge will qualify under the pro bono rule as long as you were properly supervised.