Duties to the Public and the Legal System
This chapter covers a lawyer's responsibilities beyond individual clients: pro bono service, participation in law reform and legal-services organizations, and political-contribution restrictions.
Pro Bono and Public Service
Under Model Rule 6.1, every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay and should aspire to render a substantial number of pro bono hours each year, a substantial majority of which serve persons of limited means or organizations addressing their needs. Under Model Rule 6.2, a lawyer generally should not seek to avoid a court appointment except for good cause, such as an unreasonable financial burden or a conflict.
Law Reform and Improper Influence
Under Model Rule 6.3 and 6.4, a lawyer may serve in legal-services and law-reform organizations even when their work may affect a client's interests, subject to conflict safeguards and disclosure. Under Model Rule 7.6, a lawyer or firm must not accept a government legal engagement or judicial appointment obtained by making a political contribution for the purpose of obtaining that engagement, a practice known as pay-to-play.