Albany, NY (WIBX) - New lawyers in New York are going to have to provide hours of free legal work before they can join the bar. 

New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman has unveiled new licensing regulations requiring new lawyers to donate 50 hours of pro bono work to poor or needy people.

Lippman says about 10,000 prospective lawyers pass the bar exam in New York every year.

He says that would mean 500,000 hours of much-needed legal assistance for those in need.

The requirement is likely to apply to next year's graduating law school class.

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