California governor cites high law school costs in vetoing mandatory pro bono bill
California Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday vetoed a bill that would have required would-be lawyers to complete at least 50 hours of supervised pro bono work before admission to the bar.
Brown cited the high cost of legal education in vetoing the bill, report the Sacramento Bee and the Recorder (sub. req.).
“Law students in California are now contending with skyrocketing costs—often more than $200,000 for tuition and room and board —and many struggle to find employment once they are admitted to the bar,” Brown wrote in a message that accompanied his veto. “In this context, I believe it would be unfair to burden students with the requirements set forth in this bill.”
Rather than imposing pro bono, the state should focus on cutting the cost of law school, Brown said. “By doing so, we could actually expand the opportunity to serve the public interest,” he said.
