Relates to pro bono service by attorneys and candidates for admission to the bar

• Democratic1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

The Trump Administration issued executive orders against a number of large law firms with a significant presence in New York restricting the ability of attorneys at those law firms to obtain security clearances, access government buildings and officials, and work on federal contracts. The executive orders were solely predicated on the law firms' retention of attorneys and clients with whom the Trump Administration had political differences and would have had the effect of barring these law firms from undertaking significant matters. To avoid the crippling effects of those executive orders, most of these law firms entered into agreements with the federal government to provide millions of dollars in "pro bono legal concessions". The agreements purport to require law firms to devote their pro bono resources in service of the Trump Admin- istration's chosen causes, at the expense of pro bono legal services provided to the most vulnerable among us. As former New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman said: "We are fortunate that, in New York State, so many lawyers embrace a culture of service, recognizing the ethical and social responsibility to volunteer their time and legal expertise to help ensure that we are providing for the justice needs of all." The Trump Administration's extortionary agreements with law firms run afoul of the spirit of pro bono in New York, both because they represent an interference with the sacred right of attorneys to freely practice law in service of the clients of their choosing and they endanger access to pro bono legal services for vulnerable New Yorkers targeted by the Trump Adminis- tration. The bill will ensure that New York attorneys continue to provide and report pro bono legal services irrespective of the pro bono hours provided pursuant to these coercive extortionary agreements.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.