Publication Date

Winter 2003

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This article examines the lawyer’s role as a public citizen through the lens of the professional responsibility to provide pro bono legal services. It explores the evolution and implications of the American Bar Association’s Model Rule 6.1, which defines pro bono service as a professional obligation rather than a discretionary act of charity. The discussion traces the historical foundations of lawyers’ duties to serve the public, the ethical considerations debated by the ABA’s Ethics 2000 Commission, and the tension between voluntary and mandatory service. The article also highlights the practical role of law firms and professional organizations in fostering a culture of public service within the legal community. Ultimately, it argues that the concept of the lawyer as a “public citizen” demands active commitment to ensuring access to justice for those unable to pay, positioning pro bono work as an essential component of professional identity and ethical practice.

Publication Title

University of Missouri Kansas City Law Review

Volume

72

Issue

2

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