The opinion
Cite as 2020 Ark. 259
SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
IN RE RULES FOR MINIMUM CONTINUING Opinion Delivered: June 18, 2020
LEGAL EDUCATION (RULE 4) AND
REGULATIONS OF THE ARKANSAS
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION BOARD
(RULE 4.04)
PER CURIAM
The Supreme Court hereby amends, effective July 1, 2020, Rule 4 of the Rules for
Minimum Continuing Legal Education and Rule 4.04 of the Regulations of the Arkansas
Continuing Legal Education Board. The changes are set out below, with only new material
shown and underlined. Attached as Exhibit A is a sample application form for requesting
CLE credit for pro bono service.
Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Education
Rule 4. Accreditation.
....
4.(G) The Board is authorized to establish regulations that grant credit for pro bono
publico service. The Board shall limit the number of credit hours that can be earned
through pro bono publico service to no more than three (3) hours per reporting period.
Regulations of the Arkansas Continuing Legal Education Board
Rule 4.04. Approved CLE Activities.
....
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(10) Pro Bono Credit. An attorney may earn general CLE credit hours at a rate of one (1)
hour of credit for every three (3) hours of pro bono publico service performed, with a
maximum of three (3) credit hours for pro bono publico service in each reporting period.
Hours claimed must be rounded down to the nearest quarter of an hour.
(a) As used in this rule, “pro bono publico service” means legal service provided without fee
or expectation of fee to a person of limited means. The case must be assigned and verified
by one of the following:
(i) An organization which receives funding for pro bono programs or services
from the Legal Services Corporation or the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation;
(ii) The Arkansas Access to Justice Commission;
(iii) The Arkansas Bar Association or a local bar association;
(iv) Any state or federal court in Arkansas; or
(v) Any other organization recognized by the Board as providing legal services to
persons of limited means in Arkansas without fee or expectation of fee.
(b) Attorneys seeking CLE credit for pro bono publico service shall complete and return to
the Office of Professional Programs an “Application for CLE Credit for Pro Bono Publico
Service” form. Such application shall, at a minimum, include:
(i) The attorney’s name;
(ii) The attorney’s address;
(iii) The attorney’s bar number;
(iv) The name of the entity which assigned the case;
(v) Verification from a representative of the entity assigning the case that the
case was assigned by the entity and accepted by the attorney;
(vi) A statement by the attorney of how many pro bono publico service hours they
have provided and the number of CLE credit hours they are entitled to for that service;
and
(vii) The attorney’s signature, verifying the accuracy of the information in the
application.
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EXHIBIT A
APPLICATION FOR CLE CREDIT FOR PRO BONO PUBLICO SERVICE
TO BE COMPLETED BY ATTORNEY
Attorney’s Printed
Name:_________________________________________________________
Arkansas Supreme Court Registration
Number:_______________________________________
Attorney’s
Address:_____________________________________________________________
Qualifying hours of pro bono publico service performed: __________
General CLE credit hours claimed (Divide number of qualifying pro bono publico service
hours by three (3) and round down to the nearest quarter of an hour. A maximum of three
(3) hours may be claimed.): __________
By my signature below, I am verifying that I actually provided the number of hours of pro
bono publico service claimed and that I did so without fee or expectation of fee. The CLE
hours I am claiming credit for were earned during the current reporting period.
IT IS A VIOLATION OF RULE 8.4(C) OF THE ARKANSAS RULES OF
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TO CLAIM CLE CREDIT FOR PRO BONO PUBLICO
SERVICE NOT ACTUALLY PERFORMED.
Attorney’s Signature:__________________________________
Date:____________
TO BE COMPLETED BY ASSIGNING ENTITY
Representative’s Printed
Name:___________________________________________________
Representative’s
Title:__________________________________________________________
Name of Assigning
Entity:_______________________________________________________
By my signature below, I am verifying that the attorney listed above accepted a case referral
from the entity I represent. The attorney agreed to charge no fee for handling the case. My
entity screened the client for financial eligibility and the client was determined to be a
person of limited means, unable to afford an attorney. To the best of my knowledge, the
attorney actually completed the number of pro bono publico service hours listed.
Representative’s Signature:__________________________________ Date:____________
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