Pro bono service has decreased, and Florida Bar leaders would like to know why in hopes of turning the downward trend around.
Attorneys who primarily practice law in one of these eight counties — Brevard, Broward, Miami-Dade, Duval, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, or Orange — have received or will soon receive a 39-question survey that asks such questions as:
• Did you do pro bono work in law school?
• How much do you think the annual contribution should be in lieu of doing pro bono work?
• Does your law office or firm have a written pro bono policy?
• Please rate whether the following would encourage you to do more pro bono work (from a list of 14 including “free training and CLE credit for services performed” and “courts made scheduling preferences for pro bono volunteers”).
The Florida Bar Pro Bono Legal Services Committee looked at data over the past few years, both contained on Bar dues statements and to The Florida Bar Foundation.
Kelly Carmody, a lawyer and president of Carmody and Associates, a Phoenix, Arizona, consulting firm hired by the Foundation to conduct the survey, did not have firm numbers to share.
But, she said, “Concern was raised after seeing pro bono participation fairly stagnant and some decrease in participation, especially organized pro bono programs. They wanted to take a look at the status of what is going on with pro bono in Florida and then come up with any recommendations on how to increase the amount of pro bono.”
The eight counties, she said, were chosen to be geographically diverse across the state, a mix of large and small, urban and rural, with a mix of models of pro bono programs.
“Almost 50 percent of Florida attorneys are in that sample,” she said.
The deadline for returning the surveys is March 7.
Carmody said she will complete a report — with findings, conclusions, and recommendations — to the standing committee whose stated purpose is to “review the material and information submitted pursuant to the pro bono rules and to present to the Board of Governors and the Supreme Court any suggested changes or modifications to the pro bono rules.”
In an e-mail to survey participants, Bar President Frank Angones said, “The survey is Web-based and very easy to complete. It will take you less than 10 minutes to complete and your information and thoughts will be so helpful to the study.”
Questions about the study may be directed to Carmody at (602) 277-7008 or [email protected].
— Courtesy of The Florida Bar News