Costa Mesa partner Joseph Chairez was quoted in the July 23, 2010, Los Angeles Daily Journal article, "State Bar to Consider a Slew of New Discipline Rules This Weekend."
According to the article, after nine years of work, a brand new version of California's entire set of lawyer discipline rules goes before the State Bar Board of Governors to be approved and sent on to the state Supreme Court. At least 11 of the 68 new rules have been labeled "very controversial" and flagged for further debate by the bar board, according to the article.
One of those controversial rules encourages lawyers to do pro bono work for the poor. A "hortatory" rather than mandatory rule, it would merely urge lawyers to "aspire to" increase pro bono work, according to the article. The Board of Governors removed the rule in May, but the Commission for the Revision of the Rules of Professional Conduct added it back in after more than 40 comments, mostly from legal services groups, poured in demanding it.
Chairez, a member of the Board of Governors, said some governors thought the rule conflicted with a statute.