Under Rule 6.1, a lawyer should perform at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services per year. The substantial majority must be provided without fee to which recipients?

• A. All services free to any client.
• B. Persons of limited means or charitable organizations designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means.
• C. Only to organizations with tax-exempt status.
• D. Hours can be paid if not to exceed half.

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested is how much pro bono work a lawyer must provide and to whom that work must be given without charge. Under Rule 6.1, a lawyer should aim for at least 50 hours of pro bono publico legal services each year, and a substantial majority of those hours must be provided without fee to persons of limited means or to charitable organizations designed primarily to address the needs of those persons. This requirement ensures that the bulk of pro bono efforts go toward helping those who cannot afford legal services, reinforcing access to justice rather than allowing paid work to substitute for free help. For example, if a lawyer completes 60 hours in a year, more than half—so at least 31 hours—should be donated without charge to individuals of limited means or to the relevant charitable organizations. The other options miss the point: requiring all pro bono work to be free to anyone is too broad; focusing on tax-exempt status does not capture who should receive the free services; and allowing paid hours up to half contradicts the mandate that the substantial majority be without fee to the specified recipients.