According to today's New York Law Journal:
Starting in 2013, prospective lawyers must show that they have performed at least 50 hours of law-related pro bono service as a requirement for admission to the New York state bar, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said today.
The chief judge said in his annual Law Day address at the Court of Appeals that the requirement would serve a two-fold purpose: First, it would address the large unmet need for lawyers to represent the poor. It also would inculcate in aspiring lawyers a career-long duty to serve the public, he added. . . .
When applying to the four departments of the Appellate Division for admission to the state bar, prospective lawyers would be required to submit an affidavit describing the nature and the dates of their pro bono activities and the organization and individual lawyer who supervised them.
The chief judge said it will be up to the four Committees on Character and Fitness to ensure that applicants have properly completed their pro bono requirement.
I imagine this is causing headaches for Associate Deans, not only in New York but across the country at schools whose graduates might want to practice in New York. I wonder if there was any consultation with law schools as to how to implement this requirement?