What To Do When You’re Appointed Counsel (or if You Want To Be)

Business litigation partner Daniel Pulliam and benefits and executive compensation associate Emily Kile-Maxwell coauthored an article for The Circuit Rider, the journal of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association. In it, they share considerations for attorneys appointed as pro bono counsel.

Pulliam and Kile-Maxwell address the initiation of representation, including volunteering for pro bono appointments and some districts that have established mandatory pro bono appointment panels by local rule. They also share steps for evaluating the client’s claims and resources for appointed counsel.

The authors further discuss ethical obligations and various procedures attorneys should know to move to withdraw from a case, depending on the nature of the appointment. Overall, they state that serving as appointed counsel can be a rewarding experience and an opportunity for attorneys to provide valuable services to pro se litigants and courts.