A Mandatory Pro Bono Service Standard-Its Time Has Come

Despite the efforts of ardent advocates such as Chesterfield Smith, former president of the American Bar Association, the legal profession has continually failed to adopt a rule requiring mandatory pro bono services. In this article, Mr. Smith proposes a definitive, yet flexible, pro bono rule to govern lawyers' conduct. The author explains that the flexible nature of such a rule will accommodate the individual circumstances of members of the bar while serving the needs of society.