Most lawyers that I know were already quite generous in giving away free time even before the mandatory pro bono rule was put into place. I just don't like being to told that I have to give away my time, any more than a truck driver woud like to be told that he has to deliver turkeys free of charge to the projects, or that teacher has to offer free tutoring during the summer to the poor, or that architects and engineers have to design low income housing free of charge.
Well, as I said, I don't believe the state has any business regulating the off-duty hours of licensed professionals . . . But I didn't write the law. It was written by state legislators, most of whom are lawyers. Why hasn't it been contested as unconstitutional under state laws? And if it is deemed constitutional, why hasn't legislation been put forward to amend that state's constitution to stop government interference in private enterprise?
Then you are lucky that you are not an engineer. Engineers DO have to give away their time and are not covered under Fair Labor laws because they are "professionals" not hourly wage earners. The Navy has fun awarding contracts to engineering companies that state that their engineers will work 48 hours per week, giving the Navy the last 8 hours per week. The engineers then have to work 8 hours per week for free.