Category: Mandatory Pro Bono

Mandatory Pro Bono in the Philippines

By Richelle Khor, PBI Intern On February 3, 2025, the Rules on Unified Legal Aid Service (the ULAS Rules) adopted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines took effect, making the Philippines one of a small minority of countries worldwide to implement mandatory pro bono. The ULAS Rules apply to lawyers who are (1) active members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), (2) not retired under the by-laws of the IBP, and (3) not subject to an exception under the ULAS Rules. For registered organizations, such as corporations, partnerships, associations, and law firms, the ULAS Rules extend to

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Mandatory Pro Bono Continues to Face Challenges

In an effort to address unmet legal needs, some jurisdictions have tried their hand at mandatory pro bono service and reporting, but these systems continue to face challenges. Whether it is New Jersey’s longstanding requirement that lawyers represent indigent defendants or a new proposal in California that would ask lawyers to tell the state bar the number of pro bono service hours they complete each year, the debate among lawyers, state bar associations, and others continues. Background: Pro bono service has historically been encouraged, but not mandated. First adopted in 1983, the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct

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