Pro bono service by members of the bar has been an honored hallmark, and an enduring tradition of the legal profession, which, unfortunately, has not been adequate to meet the growing needs of the indigent. Enticing larger numbers of attorneys continues to be an enduring challenge that has been exacerbated by the current state of the economy.
Registration figures for 2009 compiled by the New York State Office of Court Administration indicates that there are 253,810 attorneys registered in New York, 157,778 of whom have home addresses in the state. With the ranks of the indigent in need of legal representation growing so rapidly, it is likely that even if the aspirational goal of 20 hours of pro bono service per attorney was met, there would probably still be a significant number of those who remain without needed legal representation.
