Got 50 hours to spare?

That's what the Colorado Supreme Court is asking of all Colorado lawyers - to donate 50 hours a year toward pro bono work to help poor clients get legal representation. Considering many lawyers charge anywhere from $200 to $250 per hour, that's not just pocket change.

But it's absolutely necessary, Supreme Court justices think. That's why late last year they added a new rule to the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, urging the 50-hour per year donation.

The rule is considered "aspira- tional," which means it has no teeth if a lawyer doesn't follow it. But justices plan to publicly recognize those firms and attorneys who do meet the commitment.

"If you submit a letter saying you satisfied the pledge, no one's going to audit you or anything," said Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Daniel Taubman. "This is intended to be informal and all in good faith."

About two dozen attorneys met last week at the Colorado Springs law firm of Hanes and Schutz to hear more about the program and ask questions.

Some of the attorneys had concerns about malpractice lawsuits stemming from pro bono work, or about how corporate lawyers could fulfil the commitment.

"If 24 to 30 attorneys here make the commitment . . . over one year that could equal $300,000 to $400,000 worth of help to the indigent community," said Tim Schutz, whose firm has pledged commitment to the new rule.

It's estimated, Taubman said, that a third of all poor people have at least one legal problem a year that could affect their shelter, safety, government benefits or visitation of their children.

"We need to bridge the gap between the over-supply of lawyers and the desperate demand for pro bono services," Taubman said, echoing recently retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

State law provides poor people with a free lawyer from the Public Defender's office if they face criminal charges.

State Supreme Court justices are also looking at ways to make it easier for lawyers working pro bono cases to make filings, or to have the usual court or filing fees waived, Taubman said.

Mary Ann Corey, the pro bono coordinator for the El Paso County Bar Association, said the association's Web site (www.elpasocountybar.org) will soon have cases needing pro bono help.

"We're going to post the needs when we get them," Corey said.