With the joint efforts of Legal Aid and union staff from the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys and 1199, the State Legislature and the Governor enacted a landmark law authorizing the Chief Administrative Judge to establish caseload standards for lawyers assigned to represent low-income criminal defendants in New York City. Legal Aid thanked Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman “for his leadership and dedication in helping to devise a solution to this critical problem.” The following year, The State Office of Court Administration established an annual caseload limit for the Society of an average of 400 misdemeanors or 150 felonies, with felonies weighted as 2.66 misdemeanors in mixed caseloads.

Also in 2009, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman begins his practice of presiding over the annual Pro Bono Awards ceremony.