2025 News UMass Law: UMass Law students complete 250,000 public service and pro bono hours

Quarter-million hours spent providing legal service to the communities who need it most

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Law (UMass Law) students have surpassed a significant milestone, collectively contributing more than 250,000 hours of public service, clinical, pro bono, and field placement work since joining UMass Dartmouth 14 years ago.

This achievement underscores the law school's commitment to justice and community engagement, ensuring that students not only receive a robust legal education but also gain invaluable real-world experience while serving those in need.

Demonstrating this impact, U.S. News & World Report recently named UMass Law among the top 25 law schools nationwide, and top two in Massachusetts, for public interest law employment. preLaw Magazine also named the school one of the top law schools in the U.S. for practical training, ranking third in Massachusetts and fourth in New England.

Each UMass Law student completes at least 30 hours of pro bono service before graduation. Students in the Public Interest Law Fellowship (PILF) program commit to at least another 200 hours of public service during their time at the school, and all students participate in clinical opportunities or engage in field placement opportunities throughout the state. These efforts have provided vital legal assistance to individuals and organizations who need it most across the SouthCoast and Commonwealth.

"For our students, public service and pro bono work is not just a requirement—it's a calling. Through these 250,000 hours, they have made a tremendous difference in the lives of countless people, from tenants facing eviction to families navigating immigration challenges. Their dedication reflects the core values of our public institution."

"For our students, public service and pro bono work is not just a requirement—it's a calling," said UMass Law Dean Sam Panarella. "Through these 250,000 hours, they have made a tremendous difference in the lives of countless people, from tenants facing eviction to families navigating immigration challenges. Their dedication reflects the core values of our public institution."

All UMass Law students are guaranteed a clinic, field placement, or internship. The school offers seven in-house legal clinics where students gain hands-on experience by providing legal services under the supervision of faculty or practicing attorneys. Field placements allow students to work in a variety of external settings, performing both legal and support services for three or four credits. For many, these experiences are transformative.

"I did my field placement at Hagstrom Law Group, owned by a UMass Law alumnus, Kurt Hagstrom JD '14, where I got to assist him in his capacity as a court-appointed defense attorney." said 3L Timothy Trocchio, who will graduate this spring and begin working as an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County (Boston). "Making bail arguments, meeting clients, and experiencing court operations firsthand was an invaluable learning experience."

"This milestone is a testament to our students' dedication and the meaningful impact they have made pursuing justice," said Dean Panarella. "The true value of their work cannot be measured solely in numbers—it’s seen in the lives they've impacted."