Pro Bono Guidelines

Mission statement

The Pro Bono Program seeks to develop students’ commitments to pro bono service and expose students to public sector careers. Performing pro bono service is also a means for students to gain practical legal experience and build professional networks. The Career Services Office encourages students to perform their Pro Bono Program service hours at organizations that fit their individual interests and career goals.

Pro Bono Program graduation requirement

The Pro Bono Program requires all students to complete at least 30 hours of pro bono service in order to graduate. Additionally, all placements at which students intend to satisfy the Pro Bono Program must meet the four below-listed criteria. Students must obtain approval of their Pro Bono Program placements from Leslie Becker Wilson, the Director of the Career Services Office, prior to starting to earn their service hours. Once their Pro Bono Program service hours are completed, students must submit a completed ‘Pledge and Hour Log Form’ to the Career Services Office for their hours to count toward the Pro Bono Program. On the form, the student must sign the ‘Pledge’ portion, complete the ‘Hour Log Form’ portion, and have the supervising attorney sign the bottom portion of the completed form. Once the Career Services Office receives a completed ‘Pledge and Hour Log Form’ we will contact the student’s supervisor to verify the hours and, once verified, notify the LEC that the student has satisfied the Pro Bono Program graduation requirement. If students choose to complete 50 or more hours the Career Services Office will verify these hours to assist with any subsequent application for admission to the bar of New York State.

Placement criteria

A placement will satisfy the Pro Bono Program if it meets the following four criteria:

1. The student will be performing legal or law-related work;
2. The student’s work will be performed under the supervision of a licensed attorney;
3. The supervising attorney performing the work is employed by the government, a nonprofit, or as private practitioner rendering legal services on a pro bono basis for which payment is neither sought nor expected; and
4. The student will not receive payment or academic credit for the work performed.

Note: Students may accrue their 30 hours over a period of months and from different organizations if they choose.

Resources to find placements

Students can access specific opportunities that satisfy the Pro Bono Program on Symplicity by selecting ‘Pro Bono’ under the ‘Position Type’ field. Placements that satisfy the Pro Bono Program can also be found from a wide variety of other sources as well, including through the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association and i-Probono. Placements can also be found through Probono.net’s National Pro Bono Opportunities Guide and the Massachusetts Bar Association’s online “Pro Bono Opportunities Guide”, both of which allow a student to search for placements by county and practice area by selecting ‘Law Students’ in the ‘Opportunities For’ field to see the relevant opportunities. Similarly students can search the Massachusetts Service Alliance’s “Connect and Serve” website for placements that seek volunteers with legal skills.

Keep in mind that government agencies and offices, including legislative bodies and courts, as well as legal service providers and other nonprofits, are excellent organizations at which volunteer opportunities exist that would likely satisfy the Pro Bono Program. For example, the RI State Government Internship Program is an excellent resource. Similarly, traditional online job search resources geared toward public sector positions, including PSJD, the Government Honors and Internship Handbook, and the Department of Justice are useful resources for finding placements that may satisfy the Pro Bono Program.

Students are always welcome to visit the Career Services Office for additional guidance on securing acceptable pro bono placements. During the school year students can learn about specific opportunities that satisfy the Pro Bono Program through the On Campus Interviewing Programs, as well as from announcements by law school staff and faculty of special projects. The Career Services Office recommends students attend the various law school programs offered throughout the year to network with the speakers and inquire about available placements within their organizations at the end of each event when time is set aside for one-on-one conversations.

Pro Bono Program student required actions

In order for service hours to count toward satisfying the Pro Bono Program students must do the following:

1. Secure a placement that satisfies the four above-listed criteria;
2. Obtain prior approval of the placement by contacting Leslie Becker Wilson at leslie.becker.wilson@umassd.edu;
3. Perform 30 hours of pro bono service no later than
   1. August 15 of the year prior to graduation if you are graduating in January;
   2. January 15 of the year of graduation if you are graduating in May; and
   3. May 15 of the year of graduation if you are graduating in August; and
4. Submit the completed and signed ‘Pledge and Hour Log Form’ to the Career Services Office for verification.

Pro Bono Program hours beyond the 30 required

The law school recognizes students who perform pro bono service that significantly exceeds the required 30 hours by giving the following awards at graduation: the “Servant of Justice Award” for performing 100 hours, and the “Leader for Justice Award” for performing 200 or more hours.