In an amendment issued in October 2009, the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted a rule on in-house pro bono practice expanding their ability to provide assistance to individuals and communities in need. Under Supreme Court Rule 7 §10.01(b)(ii)(c), attorneys in Tennessee registered to practice as in-house counsel may now provide pro bono legal services through an authorized organization, such as an established bar association, pro bono program, or legal services provider. Prior to this amendment, the Supreme Court Rules offered no explicit provision for in-house pro bono practice, limiting in-house lawyers’ ability to provide legal assistance to those in need.
Also relevant in light of the recent flood disaster in the state is the Supreme Court’s adoption of Rule 47, the so-called “Katrina Rule.” The rule provides a framework for lawyers from other jurisdictions to temporarily practice and do pro bono work in Tennessee if the Court declares a major disaster.
These changes to the rules resulted, in part, from the efforts of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA). In 2008, the TBA launched an initiative, the 4ALL Campaign, to increase access to justice for Tennesseans unable to afford legal representation. The campaign included proposals for rule changes, a public awareness initiative, and a request for a statewide pro bono day of service.
Advocacy can be an effective way to influence similar changes in other jurisdictions. In the hope of making pro bono work more accessible for in-house lawyers, Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), a joint partnership between the Pro Bono Institute and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), is currently working on similar registration and licensing issues in other states. CPBO not only tracks rules governing pro bono practice by in-house lawyers but also works with legal departments, ACC Chapters, and others to address multi-jurisdictional practice obstacles to in-house pro bono practices. For more information, please contact Eve Runyon, CPBO director.
Developed by Corporate Pro Bono
A global partnership project of the Pro Bono Institute and the Association of Corporate Counsel
www.cpbo.org