The Idaho Pro Bono Commission

Nationally, a renaissance in pro bono service is underway and Idaho has signed on. Notably, collaboration between the Idaho Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court of Idaho and the Idaho State Bar created the Idaho Pro Bono Commission. Its founding resolution lays out specific recommendations for increasing pro bono work across the state.
Read more about the Commission. PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader
Read about the Commission in this Aug. 16 story by the Idaho State Journal. PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader
Download a brochure about the Idaho Pro Bono Commission. PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader

The Task of the Commission

The Commission’s goal is encourage a culture of pro bono service in Idaho.  The Commission has three goals:

  1. To increase pro bono participation by private sector attorneys in both private firms and in corporate legal departments.
  2. To increase pro bono participation by public sector attorneys including deputy attorneys general, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, city attorneys and judicial clerks.
  3. Finally, the resolution urges judges to adopt “best practices” to encourage and support pro bono participation by attorneys under their jurisdiction.

Pro Bono Policy Templates

The members of the Idaho Pro Bono Commission have developed templates to guide legal firms and offices in the creation of a pro bono policy for their organizations.

  1. Private Law Firm Policy Template PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader
  2. Corporate Legal Department Policy Template PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader
  3. Public Sector Policy Template PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader

The Members of the Commission

List of Idaho Pro Bono Commission members. PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader

Help For Attorneys To Perform Pro Bono Service

The following CLEs are designed to give non-experts quality training to be able to accept pro bono cases in areas of greatest need.  Check back regularly for additional offerings:

Sept 18 - IVLP CLE: Representing Immigrants in Deportation Proceedings, Boise PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader

Oct 2 - Family Law Section CLE: Navigating the Shoals of a Family Law Case, Blackfoot PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader

Oct 9 - Family Law Section CLE: Navigating the Shoals of a Family Law Case, Boise PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader

Oct 16 - Family Law Section CLE: Navigating the Shoals of a Family Law Case, Coeur d'Alene PDF File - Get Acrobat Reader

Contact the Commission

The Idaho Supreme Court, the U.S. Federal District Court and the Idaho State Bar are committed to ensure that justice reaches the poorest, most under-represented and most hidden corners of our society.  The Idaho Pro Bono Commission hopes that our efforts will assist your efforts in achieving our common aspiration. Please contact Mary Hobson if you wish to hear more about how you can participate.

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