BILL NUMBER:  SB 1257
  VETOED	DATE: 08/29/2016




To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 1257 without my signature.

This bill requires an applicant for membership in the State Bar to
complete at least fifty hours of supervised pro bono legal service.
It also requires that a practicing lawyer or law professor supervise
the student.

I certainly support law students and lawyers providing pro bono legal
services. Some law schools already promote volunteerism and pro bono
service in various ways and many employers also require a certain
amount of pro bono hours for associates and clerks. While I commend
the author for his desire to further these efforts, I don't believe a
state mandate can be justified.

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.
In this context, I believe it would be unfair to burden students with
the requirements set forth in this bill.

Instead, we should focus on lowering the cost of legal education and
devising alternative and less expensive ways to qualify for the Bar
Exam. By doing so, we could actually expand the opportunity to serve
the public interest.

Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.