ProJusticeMN.org Newsletter: January 2014

Last year, former MSBA President Bob Enger announced the creation of the North Star Lawyers program to recognize those MSBA members who provided essential volunteer legal services to Minnesota's low income residents.  This program celebrates the work of members who meet or exceed 50 hours of pro bono service in a calendar year, as set forth in Rule 6.1(a), (b)(1), and (b)(2) of the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The first year of the program was incredibly successful.  In 2012, over 740 MSBA members were certified as North Star Lawyers, having provided over 87,000 total volunteer hours of pro bono service with an estimated value of $17,000,000.  The MSBA recognized this first group of North Star Lawyers with advertisements listing each participating member in the Bench & Bar and Minneapolis Star Tribune.  The MSBA also issued press releases to statewide news outlets and a granted group members a special electronic logo suitable for website, e-mail, or other usage.

We want to make sure you too are included in this year's effort to recognize pro bono legal service.  Now is the time for all MSBA members who meet the program requirements to certify their pro bono service for 2013, including members who participated in the program last year.  Don't delay – the deadline for submitting your information is February 28, 2014.  Full program information and the certification form can be found on the North Star Lawyers website at:  http://www.mnbar.org/NorthStar/

If you have questions about the North Star Lawyers program, contact Steve Marchese, Pro Bono Development Director for the MSBA, at smarchese@mnbar.org or (612) 278-6308. 

Click here to see the attorneys already recognized as North Star Lawyers.