American Bar Association Model Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 states that "Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year." The rule goes on to say that a substantial majority of the 50 hours should be provided to persons of limited means or charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means. New Jersey's RPC 6.1 is a watered-down version of the model rule. It provides that "Every lawyer has a professional responsibility to render public interest legal services." There is no aspirational number of hours and instead of referring to "voluntary pro bono publico service" like the model rule, it is addressed to the broader category of "public interest legal services." It also includes the amorphous "service in activities for improving the law, the legal system or the legal profession."

New Jersey does have the minimal pro bono requirement of accepting assignments when made under Madden v. Delran, 126 N.J. 59 (1992), typically violations of domestic restraining orders, municipal appeals and parole revocation hearings. Lawyers can satisfy their Madden obligation by performing at least 25 hours of pro bono legal services in the prior year through one or more of 133 approved referring agencies ranging from Legal Services of New Jersey to Pro Bono Partnership to the Veterans Consortium. This option encourages lawyers to perform pro bono in areas of their own expertise or passion.