On October 15, 2007, the Supreme Court of Mississippi adopted an amendment to Rule 46 of the Mississippi Rules of Appellate Procedure to include a provision for pro bono publicus attorneys. A pro bono publicus attorney is (a) an inactive member of the Mississippi Bar who is not otherwise engaged in the practice of law; or (b) an attorney licensed in a state other than Mississippi who will provide free legal services under the supervision of a qualified legal services provider and neither asks for nor receives personal compensation of any kind for the legal services rendered. A qualified legal services provider is a notfor-profit legal aid organization that is approved by the Mississippi Bar. An attorney who complies with the rule permitting practice as a pro bono publicus attorney shall not be deemed to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Mississippi. The purpose of Rule 46(f) is to permit and encourage attorneys who do not engage in the active practice of law in Mississippi to provide legal representation to persons who cannot afford private legal services

(see http://www.mssc.state.ms.us/Images/Opinions/143112. pdf).

For more information on how your state can develop and implement state emeritus pro bono attorney rules, contact Holly Robinson at robinsoh@staff.abanet.org.