Free of Charge and Worth Every Cent.

Posted By Cliff Tuttle | May 2, 2012

No.  830

The New York Times reports that 50 hours of pro bono publico work will be required, starting next year, before admission to the New York State Bar.The article goes on to talk about the great need for free or low cost legal services and how such a program may address that need.

But there is another urgent need.  New lawyers don’t automatically know how to practice law.  Without some kind of supervision and training, legal services by soon-to-be lawyers don’t have a lot of value.  Somebody must teach them how to do it.

It will be interesting to see how New York sets up its program. If there is an opportunity for new lawyers to work in clinics supervised by practitioners, it could be a valuable resource and a model for the future.  But if it turns out to be another credential that must be earned in law school, it may be of lesser value to both the public and new lawyers.

CLT

Welcome

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

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