On September 14, 2012, the New York Court of Appeals issued a new rule (§ 520.16) requiring applicants to perform 50 hours of pro bono service prior to admission to the New York State Bar.  Please note that the rule is written in terms of when the applicant is actually admitted to the New York State bar, not when they have graduated from law school or when they take the bar (as some applicants will not pass on their first attempt); but, it is when they have passed the bar and are admitted that is determinative: “. . . applicants admitted to the New York State bar on or after January 1, 2015 must complete at least 50 hours of qualifying pro bono service prior to filing an application for admission”.