New York Bar Pro Bono Information

On September 14, 2012, the New York Bar adopted a rule (22 NYCRR ยง 520.16) stating that applicants to the New York Bar MUST complete 50 hours of pro bono service prior to admission. New York prepared a very helpful FAQ page to explain the rule. If you have further questions, visit New York's Pro Bono Bar Admissions Requirements page.

For each pro bono activity that might qualify under the rule, you will need to complete New York's "Form Affidavit of Compliance." It must be signed by your supervisor, so it is best to complete this form at the end of each project (rather than when you are trying to assemble documents for admission months or years later).

Our Top Six Ways to Fulfill the New York Pro Bono Requirement:

  1. Most clinics
  2. Full-time and part-time externships, including those in South Africa and Geneva
  3. Most (but not all, so be careful!) Michigan Law pro bono projects
  4. Summer judicial internships
  5. Summer public interest and government internships
  6. Pro bono work at law firms

Of course, this list is not exhaustive, so review New York's FAQ page and Pro Bono Bar Admissions Requirements page for more details.

If you have questions, contact Amy Sankaran, Director of Externship and Pro Bono Programs, at aharwell@umich.edu or 734.764.7787, or you can make an appointment online.

Note: We are providing this information as a courtesy, but it is subject to change. Visit New York's Pro Bono Bar Admission Requirements Page for the latest information.