According to information submitted by members of The Florida Bar, Florida lawyers last year donated an overwhelming amount of time and money to the state's poor.

During 1999-2000, Florida attorneys provided 1.3 million pro bono hours and donated more than $1.6 million in direct legal aid funding. The state's attorneys also worked a total of 6.3 million hours providing free legal service to various charity, civic and religious organizations, which is not officially considered pro bono work based on the Florida Supreme Court's definition. The guidelines restrict "pro bono" work to legal services rendered without charge to those individuals with incomes that fall below the federal poverty standard.

"There is a nobility of purpose about the legal profession and the work it does," said Bar President Herman Russomanno. "Lawyers help people and help keep our democracy intact through their outstanding contributions to society."

Out of a total of 61,643 active Bar members in good standing, a record 26,920 members (44 percent) reported that they personally contributed pro bono hours last year. That translates to an average of 49.9 hours per contributing attorney -- more than double the high court's aspirational goal of 20 hours annually per Bar member. For 1999-2000, Florida lawyers reported contributing 1,343,068 hours of pro bono service to the state's poor -- 36 percent more than the year before. Russomanno said these numbers are outstanding, but he encourages even more members to participate and make contributions.

The figures were reported in the January 15, 2001, issue of The Florida Bar News . The full text of the article can be found on the Bar website at www.flabar.org .

The current rules for pro bono reporting were finalized by the Florida Supreme Court for the 1994-95 year, though originally approved one year earlier. In 1993 the court adopted a voluntary minimum of 20 personally provided pro bono hours or a $350 contribution to a legal aid organization for lawyers not otherwise prohibited from providing such services.

# # #

[Updated: 07-01-2005 ]