In Re Creation of the Arkansas Pro Bono Appeals Pilot Program

2023 Ark. 111

• Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
• Decided: June 15, 2023
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2023 Ark. 110 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS IN RE CREATION OF THE Opinion Delivered June 15, 2023 ARKANSAS PRO BONO APPEALS PILOT PROGRAM

PER CURIAM

Today, we announce the creation of the Arkansas Pro Bono Appeals Pilot Program.

The program’s goal is to pair low-income appellate litigants with pro bono counsel that can

assist them through the appellate process. The Center for Arkansas Legal Services (CALS)

and Legal Aid of Arkansas (Legal Aid) have graciously volunteered to provide income-

eligibility screening and referral services for the program. Assistance will be available to

appellate litigants in civil cases who are not incarcerated, whose income is at or below 125

percent of the federal poverty level, and who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements

for receipt of assistance through CALS and Legal Aid. Once the program is operational, pro

se litigants may apply for a referral to a volunteer attorney. If the application is approved

and a referral is made, the attorney will then consult with the litigant about the matter and

decide whether and to what extent to provide any assistance or representation.

Before the project can become operational, we will need a slate of attorneys willing

to volunteer their time and efforts. Therefore, we are now seeking volunteers. As we have

said before, pro bono public service to low-income Arkansans “represents one of the noblest

attributes of the legal profession.” In re Access to Justice Month, 2022 Ark. 173 (per curiam).

Moreover, all Arkansas attorneys bear a professional responsibility to provide free legal services to those unable to pay. Ark. R. Prof’l Conduct 6.1. Attorneys that participate in

the program will be eligible to receive up to three hours of continuing legal education credit

for their pro bono service. See In re Rules for Minimum Continuing Legal Educ. (Rule 4), 2020

Ark. 259 (per curiam). And CALS and Legal Aid will provide malpractice insurance

following a referral from one of those organizations.

Attorneys who wish to participate should email the Arkansas Supreme Court Clerk

at probonoappeals@arcourts.gov. We thank everyone willing to assist in this effort to extend

access to appellate justice to our fellow Arkansans who are without the resources to hire

appellate counsel, and we anticipate announcing additional information once the program

is operational.