What is the Pro Bono Service Requirement?
It is a requirement that J.D. students must perform at least 50 hours of pro bono service through a project that has been approved by the Director in order to graduate.
What kind of service qualifies for credit toward the requirement?
In order to qualify for credit towards the requirement, the pro bono service must be law-related. In addition, students may not receive financial compensation or academic credit for providing pro bono service. Moreover, a licensed attorney or other qualified supervisor must adequately supervise and review all of the student’s work. The service must be:
(1) on behalf of people who cannot afford to pay for legal services, have limited access to legal services, or are underserved by the private bar, or
(2) aimed at protecting the rights of an individual or individuals in situations raising important public interest concerns and/or important rights belonging to a significant and underserved segment of the public.
Government work, including working for the district attorney or public defender (or their federal/local equivalents) qualifies for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement under our definition of pro bono. Judicial clerkships and internships, however, do NOT qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement because they do not fall within the parameters of pro bono service for the law school's program.
When can a student begin work on the requirement?
Students can start work on the requirement beginning in the Spring semester of the 1L year of law school. Students can receive credit for a maximum 25 hours of pro bono service during the Spring semester of the 1L year. The remaining 25 hours can be completed at any time during the Summer after the 1L year and the 2L/3L years of law school.
When must students complete the requirement?
To receive credit, a student must complete the 50-hour requirement and submit all required forms to the Director, at the latest, on the last day of classes of the student’s final semester of law school. The Director of Academic Services will be notified of the completion of the requirement once these forms are received and approved.
What happens if the 50-hour Pro Bono Service Requirement is not met?
The mandatory Pro Bono Service Requirement is required for graduation. If the requirement is not completed, the student will not be allowed to graduate or be certified for admission to the bar.
How is a Pro Bono project selected?
After researching the available pro bono opportunities listed on the
Pro Bono Opportunities page, students must select a pro bono project and notify the Director of their selection. Students seeking guidance can meet with the Director to discuss all of the Program’s existing options. Students wanting to initiate new projects or student organization pro bono projects must meet with the Director to approve such opportunities.
Do all hours of service have to be on one project or may they be on more than one project?
Students have the option of performing all their hours on one project or electing to provide services on more than one project. Note that not all pro bono projects are structured to yield 50 hours of work.
What forms have to be filled out and returned to the Director for Public Interest Programs?
To receive credit for pro bono service, all required forms must be completed and returned to Karen Pearlman Raab, Director for Pro Bono and Public Interest Programs:
Does work performed for a public interest co-op placement or clinic qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement?
Work performed for a public interest co-op placement or clinic will not qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement. However, with approval from the Director, work performed beyond the requirements of a co-op placement or clinic, so long as it meets the definition of pro bono service, will qualify for credit.
If I receive a Public Interest Summer Stipend or Work Study, does work performed at my summer internship qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement?
Work funded by a Public Interest Summer Stipend or Work Study will not qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Requirement. However, with approval from the Director, work performed beyond the terms of the Summer Stipend or Work Study, so long as it meets the definition of pro bono service, will qualify for credit.
Does work performed on a political campaign qualify towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement?
No. Work performed on a political campaign does not qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement because it does not fall with the parameters of pro bono service for the law school's program.
Does an uncompensated summer judicial internship qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement?
No. Judicial internships do not qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement because they do not fall within the parameters of pro bono service for the law school's program.
Does uncompensated work for an attorney in private practice qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement?
Uncompensated work performed for an attorney in private practice will qualify for credit towards the Pro Bono Service Requirement so long as the attorney is handling the case as a pro bono matter, meaning the attorney is not receiving compensation for the work performed and the case itself falls within the parameters of pro bono service for the law school's program.