Pro Bono Service Requirements

Generally, students will receive pro bono credit when a student works without pay or academic credit for a public interest attorney or for a private attorney when he or she has taken a case on a pro bono or appointed basis. A public interest attorney is an attorney employed by an organization that is educational, charitable, governmental or nonprofit in nature.

To qualify for credit, the work must be law-related and supervised by a licensed attorney. Clerical work is appropriate only to the extent needed to carry out the overall legal task. Students receive half credit for training and full credit for service to the site.

Students begin fulfilling their pro bono requirement after they have completed one semester of law school. During their first semester, students may earn pro bono credit for specially designated programs the Director of Externships and Public Service and Pro Bono has approved.

Each student is responsible for selecting a placement, contacting that office, arranging to do the work, completing the work, and submitting their hours on CORE. To qualify for credit, the work must be law-related and supervised by a licensed attorney. Clerical work is appropriate only to the extent needed to carry out the overall legal task. Students receive half credit for training and full credit for service to the site.

The supervising attorney at these sites has agreed to allow students to contact him or her to inquire whether the student might be able to perform pro bono work for the attorney. To receive credit for performing work at sites not on the approved pro bono site list on CORE, students must obtain approval from the Director of Externships and Public Service and Pro Bono prior to beginning any pro bono work at that site.