When in-house lawyers licensed in other states are only permitted to do work for their employers, it can make setting up a successful corporate pro bono program pretty difficult, as socially conscious GCs are surely aware. But on April 8, the Illinois Supreme Court remedied that problem for businesses within the Prairie State with a rule change that unties the hands of many out-of-state in-house counsel.
The court amended Illinois’ Rules 716 and 756 to allow lawyers who are licensed in other states, but registered in Illinois, to provide pro bono services without having to be supervised by an Illinois-licensed attorney or pre-approved legal aid organization. The rules took effect immediately.
