MARYLAND COURT OF APPEALS
PRO BONO SERVICE REPORT AND IOLTA REPORT

Additional information

Click here for pro bono reporting
Click here for IOLTA reporting

Downloadable Report Forms

in MS Word:

in PDF:

Completed forms should be mailed to:

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS
P.O. BOX 319
SIMPSONVILLE, MD 21150-0319

Instructions

A Combined Reporting Process

All lawyers licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland are required to fulfill two important reporting requirements each year. Failure to comply with the Pro Bono or IOLTA reporting requirement can result in decertification from the practice of law in this state. To eliminate confusion, the filing deadlines and mailings for these two reporting requirements have been combined. A single mailing will be sent to Maryland lawyers no later than January 10, 2013. Attorneys may return the forms by mail, or may follow the instructions included with the mailing to file both reports over the Internet. Online filing is strongly encouraged. Both the Pro Bono Report and the IOLTA Report will be due no later than February 15, 2013.

ONLINE FILING

Pro Bono Reporting Requirement

Maryland Rule 16-903 requires Maryland attorneys to report on any pro bono activities they engaged in during the prior calendar year. The Administrative Office of the Courts is required to mail the pro bono reporting form to all attorneys no later than January 10 of the year following the calendar year for which reporting is required. Attorneys must file the written report, or file online, no later than February 15. Reports are confidential (although non-identifying data may be gleaned from the reports). Failure to file a timely pro bono report can result in decertification. To confirm receipt of your report, click on Online Filing above.

Note that while reporting is mandatory, there is no mandatory service requirement. Rule 6.1 of the Maryland Rules of Professional Conduct suggests that full-time practicing attorneys provide 50 hours of service pro bono publico each year.

For more information about the Pro Bono Reporting Process, Frequently Asked Questions, and other information about the Maryland Judiciary's initiatives to promote pro bono service among the Maryland Bar, visit http://www.courts.state.md.us/probono/index.html.

IOLTA Reporting Requirement

Maryland Rule 16-608(b) requires all attorneys admitted to practice in Maryland to report each year on whether they have any attorney trust accounts subject to Rule 16-608 from which Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) are to be collected. Attorneys must file the written report, or file online, no later than February 15. Failure to file a timely IOLTA report can result in decertification. IOLTA funds are used to support organizations in Maryland providing legal help to persons of limited means. For a list of legal services programs that receive grants from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), click here.

Instructions for completing the form are provided under 'Instructions for IOLTA Compliance Report' in the left column. For more information about IOLTA Compliance Reporting, Frequently Asked Questions, and other information about IOLTA and the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, visit http://mlsc.org/lawyers/compliance-faqs/.