Check a private-lawyer claim against the fee-generating limits
Key facts
- Human involvement
- YellowClose supervision
- How AI is used
- List whether the matter would generate a fee, whether a referral service or private lawyers have declined it, and whether anyone proposes to charge the client.
- What the lawyer must review
- 42 U.S.C. § 2996f(b)(1) says Corporation funds may not be used for a fee-generating case except under Corporation guidelines, which must not bar help where the client seeks only statutory benefits and private representation is not available. Section 2996f(a)(10) requires attorneys doing Corporation-supported work to refrain from personal representation for a private fee in any case in which they were involved while doing that work. 45 C.F.R. § 1609.3 says a recipient may not use Corporation funds in a fee-generating case unless the case was rejected by the local referral service or by two private attorneys, or neither will consider it without a consultation fee, or another exception in that section applies. 45 C.F.R. § 1614 allows some modified pro bono plans to charge eligible clients a nominal fee. This is not a ban on every charge to the client.
- Written for / version
- United States versionUS
Who does what
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Assistance | Consider narrowly defined preparation support after confirming the tool’s capability and permitted scope. |
| Lawyer | Set the scope, supervise the work closely, verify every part relied on, resolve omissions and exceptions, and approve the exact output. |
Checklist
- Verify the applicable jurisdiction and the version of each relevant law, rule or instrument in force at the material time.
- Confirm the output against the client’s instructions and the complete relevant source material, including omissions or contradictions.
- Resolve exceptions and record the responsible lawyer’s approval of the exact output and intended use.