Md. Rule 19-503 (2026)

(a) Definitions. In this Rule, (1) “AIS” means the Attorney Information System, (2) “AOC” means the Administrative Office of the Courts, and (3) “fiscal year” means the 12-month period commencing on July 1 and ending the following June 30.

(b) Duty to Report Pro Bono Legal Service.

(1) Required as a Condition of Practice. As a condition of continuing to practice law in Maryland, on or before September 10 of each year, each attorney in active status shall file electronically, through AIS, a Pro Bono Legal Service Report.

(2) Pro Bono Legal Service Report. On or before July 10 of each year, the State Court Administrator shall send electronically to each attorney in active status a notice requiring the attorney to complete through AIS a Pro Bono Legal Service Report on or before September 10 of that year. The report shall be in a form approved by the State Court Administrator.

Committee note: The purpose of pro bono legal service reporting is to document the pro bono legal service performed by attorneys in Maryland and determine the effectiveness of the Local Pro Bono Action Plans, the State Pro Bono Action Plan, the Rules in this Chapter, and Rule 19-306.1 (6.1) of the Maryland Attorneys' Rules of Professional Conduct.

(c) Enforcement.

(1) Notice of Default. As soon as practicable after February 10 of each year, the State Court Administrator shall send electronically a Notice of Default to each attorney who has failed to file the Pro Bono Legal Service Report for the preceding fiscal year. The Notice of Default shall (A) be on a form approved by the State Court Administrator, (B) state that the attorney has not filed the Pro Bono Legal Service Report, and (C) state that failure to cure the default will result in the entry of an order by the Supreme Court administratively suspending the attorney from the practice of law in Maryland.

(2) List of Defaulting Attorneys. As soon as practicable after February 10 of each year but no later than March 10, the State Court Administrator shall:

(A) transmit to the Supreme Court a list that includes the name and AIS number of each attorney engaged in the practice of law who has failed to file the Pro Bono Legal Service Report for the preceding reporting period; and

(B) at the request of the Court, furnish additional information from its records or give further notice to the defaulting attorneys.

(3) Administrative Suspension Order. If satisfied that the State Court Administrator has given the Notice of Default to the attorneys named on the list, the Supreme Court shall enter an Administrative Suspension Order prohibiting each attorney in default from practicing law in Maryland. The Clerk of the Supreme Court shall (A) send electronically a copy of the Order to each administratively suspended attorney named in the Order, (B) comply with Rule 19-761, and (C) post the order on the Judiciary website.

(4) Effect of Order. An attorney who has been sent a copy of the Administrative Suspension Order and who has not been restored to good standing may not practice law in Maryland and shall comply with the requirements of Rule 19-741 (b) and (c). In addition to any other remedy or sanction allowed by law, an action for contempt may be brought against an attorney who practices law in violation of an Administrative Suspension Order.

(5) Termination of Administrative Suspension Order.

(A) Notice to Supreme Court. If, after an administrative suspension under this Rule, an attorney files the outstanding Pro Bono Legal Service Report and is in compliance with the requirements of Rules 19-409 and 19-605, the State Court Administrator shall inform the Supreme Court that the attorney is no longer in default and request the Court to enter an order terminating the attorney's administrative suspension.

(B) Duty of Court. Upon receipt of the notice and request provided for in subsection (c)(5)(A) of this Rule and payment of any fee for reinstatement, the Supreme Court shall enter an order terminating the administrative suspension of the attorney and the Clerk of the Court shall (A) send electronically a copy of the reinstatement order to each attorney who has been restored to good standing, (B) comply with Rule 19-761, and (C) post the Order on the Judiciary website.

(C) Disclosure of Administrative Suspension. After an attorney's administrative suspension for failure to file a Pro Bono Legal Services Report has been terminated, the attorney need not disclose the administrative suspension in response to a request for information as to whether the attorney has been the subject of a disciplinary or remedial proceeding.

(d) Confidentiality. Pro Bono Legal Service Reports are confidential and are not subject to inspection or disclosure under Code, General Provisions Article, § 4-301 or Title 16, Chapter 900 of these Rules. Neither AIS nor AOC shall release those Reports to any person, except as provided in this Rule or upon order of the Supreme Court. Non-identifying information and data contained in an attorney's Pro Bono Legal Service Report are not confidential.

(e) Certain Information Furnished to the Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Service. AOC promptly shall submit to the Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Service a compilation of non-identifying information and data from the Pro Bono Legal Service Reports.

Source: This Rule is derived from former Rule 16-903 (2016).

Credits

[Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. July 1, 2016. Amended Dec. 4, 2018, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; April 21, 2023, eff. nunc pro tunc April 1, 2023; Feb. 23, 2026, eff. July 1, 2026.]