Every licensed paralegal practitioner has aprofessional responsibility to provide legalservices to those unable to pay. A licensed paralegal practitioner shouldaspire to render at least 30 hoursof pro bono publico legal services per year. Infulfilling this responsibility, thelicensed paralegal practitioner should:
(a) provide asubstantial majority of the 30 hours of legal services without fee
(a)(1) persons oflimited means or
(a)(2) charitable,religious, civic, community, governmental andeducational
(b) provide anyadditional services through:
(b)(1) Reserved.
(b)(2) delivery oflegal services at no fee or
(b)(3) participationin activities for improving the law, the legal system or the
(c) A licensed paralegal practitioner mayalso discharge the responsibility to provide
(d) Each licensed paralegal practitioner isurged to report annually to the Utah StateBar whether the licensed paralegal practitioner has satisfied the LPP?s
(e) In addition to providing pro bono legalservices, a licensed paralegal practitionershould voluntarily contribute financial support to organizations that providelegal services to persons of limited
[1] Every licensed paralegal practitioner, regardless ofprofessional prominence or professional work load, has a responsibility toprovide legal services to those unable to pay. Personal involvement in theproblems of the disadvantaged can be one of the most rewarding experiences inthe life of a licensed paralegal practitioner. All licensed paralegalpractitioners are urged to provide a minimum of 30 hours of pro bono servicesannually. It is recognized that in some years a licensed paralegal practitionermay render greater or fewer hours than the annual standard specified, butduring the course of the licensed paralegal practitioner?s career, eachlicensed paralegal practitioner should render on average per year, the numberof hours set forth in this Rule. Services can be performed in any area in whichthe licensed paralegal practitioner is authorized to practice.
[2] Paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) recognizethe critical need for legal services that exists among persons of limited meansby providing that a substantial majority of the legal services renderedannually to the disadvantaged be furnished without fee or expectation of fee.Legal services under these paragraphs include individual representation, theprovision of legal advice, legislative lobbying, administrative rule making andthe provision of free training or mentoring to those who represent persons oflimited means.
[3] Persons eligible for legal services underparagraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) are those whoqualify for participation in programs funded by the Legal Services Corporationand those whose incomes and financial resources are slightly above theguidelines utilized by such programs but nevertheless cannot afford counsel.
[4] Because service must be provided withoutfee or expectation of fee, the intent of the licensed paralegal practitioner torender free legal services is essential for the work performed to fall withinthe meaning of paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2). Accordingly, services renderedcannot be considered pro bono if an anticipated fee is uncollected.
[5] While it is possible for a licensedparalegal practitioner to fulfill the annual responsibility to perform pro bonoservices exclusively through activities described in paragraphs (a)(1) and(a)(2), to the extent that any hours of service remain unfulfilled, theremaining commitment
[6] Reserved.
[7] Paragraph (b)(2) coversinstances in which licensed paralegal practitioners agree to and receive
[8] Paragraph (b)(3) recognizesthe value of licensed paralegal practitioners engaging in activities thatimprove the law, the legal system or the legal profession. Serving on barassociation committees, serving on boards of pro bono or legal servicesprograms, taking part in Law Day and other law related education activities,acting as a continuing legal education instructor, a mediator or an arbitratorand engaging in legislative lobbying to improve the law, the legal system orthe profession are a few examples of the many activities that fall within this
[9] Because the provision of pro bonoservices is a professional responsibility, it is the individual ethicalcommitment of each licensed paralegal practitioner. Nevertheless, there may betimes when it is not feasible for a licensed paralegal practitioner to engagein pro bono services. At such times a licensed paralegal practitioner maydischarge the pro bono responsibility by providing financial support toorganizations providing free legal servicesto persons of limited means. In addition, at times it may be more feasible tosatisfy the pro bono responsibility collectively, as by a firm's aggregate probono activities.
[10] Because the efforts of individuallicensed paralegal practitioners are not enough to meet the need for free
[11] Law and law-related firms employinglicensed paralegal practitioners should act reasonably to enable and encourageall licensed paralegal practitioners in the firm to provide the pro bono legalservices called for in this Rule.
[12] The responsibility set forth in thisRule is not intended to be enforced through disciplinary process.
Effective May 1, 2019