The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Pro Bono Recognition Program Certification
Name of law firm, solo practitioner, or other submitting organization:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact Person (for law firms or other organizations): ____________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone Number: ___________________________ E-mail Address: __________________________________
This Certification is being submitted by, or on behalf of, a (please check one):
_____ Solo Practitioner _______ Law Firm (______ lawyers in firm) ______ Government Attorneys Office
_____ Non-Profit Organization ______ Law School Faculty
**THIS FORM SHOULD NOT BE USED BY LAW STUDENTS**
Law students have a separate process to be recognized for their pro bono commitment
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BY MY SIGNATURE BELOW, I CERTIFY THE FOLLOWING WITH RESPECT TO PRO BONO PARTICIPATION:
Please check at least one below:
____
That the pro bono legal services hours per attorney, defined as the total number of pro bono hours provided by the
Massachusetts Attorneys
1
divided by the number of Massachusetts Attorneys (full-time equivalents), is at least fifty
(50)
or
____ That more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Massachusetts Attorneys have provided at least twenty-five (25)
pro bono hours
AND (Please check the one that applies):
____ (For law firms and solo practitioners) That for purposes of attorney retention and promotion, time devoted to
approved pro bono legal services is treated the same as time devoted to billable time or its equivalent. If billable
hours are not strictly or solely used as a criteria for retention and promotion (e.g., contingency fee work or salaried
positions), pro bono legal services hours are treated the same as time that is recognized for purposes of retention and
promotion; and that for purposes of attorney compensation, time devoted to approved pro bono legal services up to
at least fifty hours (50) per year is treated the same as time devoted to billable legal work or its equivalent. If
billable hours are not strictly or solely used to measure compensation (e.g., contingency fee work or salaried
positions), pro bono legal services are treated the same as time that is determinative of compensation.
____
(For other organizations) An attorney may devote up to at least fifty (50) hours per year to pro bono services
without any negative impact on the attorney’s compensation, retention or promotion opportunities
Signature: _________________________________________________ Date: __________
Name and Title (printed):______________________________________________________
Please return completed certification by email to mb.sjcprobono@jud.state.ma.us
, referencing Pro Bono Honor Roll in the subject line, or by
mail to Chip Phinney, Supreme Judicial Court, One Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108 or by facsimile to 617-557-1052.
1
Please see the full program description for the definition of “Massachusetts Attorney” for purposes of this certification.
