Governor Phil Murphy

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Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order to Allow State to Receive Pro Bono Legal Services

09/3/2019

TRENTON - Today, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 81, clarifying legal services retention rules to make it clear that law firms can provide legal services to the State pro bono, or free of charge.  Law firms that provide such services pro bono will be disqualified from providing legal services to the State for compensation throughout the pro bono retention and for a period of six months thereafter.  Firms providing pro bono services will have to abide by the normal rules governing conflicts of interest.

“I am pleased to be able to clarify the rules to ensure that law firms can provide legal services to the State free of charge, if they choose,” said Governor Murphy.  “This arrangement will allow law firms to take on even more of the most challenging and groundbreaking cases facing in our State while safeguarding taxpayer dollars.”

“My Department is committed to standing up for New Jersey residents in court on issues like civil rights, firearm safety, and consumer protection,” said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. “This Executive Order lays out the processes governing how we can obtain pro bono support for that work.”

Copy of Executive Order #81