TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's lawyers are slacking off in providing free legal work to the poor, a new study suggests.

The Florida Supreme Court released the study Monday of the legal work called "pro bono" services. It was conducted by consultants for a Florida Bar subcommittee and submitted to the high court, which oversees the state's legal profession.

The study shows only 52 percent of lawyers reported they did free work in 2006 - the same as 2000. Pro bono programs, meanwhile, saw a 30 percent decline in the number of lawyers who donated their time.

The study recommends legal community leaders, including the Supreme Court, increase their pro bono emphasis and that they improve the coordination of what now is a patchwork of different legal service efforts, many of which do not work together.

"We will use this report as a roadmap to guide our reform efforts and to remind Florida lawyers that their license is granted as a privilege that comes with definite obligations to the public," Chief Justice Peggy Quince said.

Bar rules set a goal - but not a requirement - of 20 free hours per lawyer annually or else a $350 donation to a legal aid organization. The study recommends the donation be increased to $500 and that law firms count pro bono work as billable hours.

The state report cites a national study showing for every poor person who receives legal assistance another is turned away.

Lawyers responding to a survey indicated a lack of time is the main reason they don't perform pro bono work. Another factor they cited is the lack the skills or experience needed to competently represent clients in the specialties required by the poor.

The study says other causes are not being asked to provide service, insufficient pro bono opportunities that interest lawyers and a lack of commitment by the management or staff of pro bono programs.


(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)