Why Pro Bono? Who Can Participate? What Hours Count? What Training is Required?

These and other questions are answered in the Pro Bono Program Student Handbook. Print copies of the handbook are available in the Eisenberg Suite.

Hours done in excess of those required for a supervised field placement may qualify for pro bono hours if the placement satisfies the pro bono criteria. Students are responsible for reporting excess hours to the Office of Public Service (Suite 138) using a pro bono timesheet. Hours you report for your supervised field placement are not recorded as pro bono hours for you.

Finding a Pro Bono Opportunity:

There are many pro bono opportunities available in the community. The Pro Bono Projects brochure contains an overview of most projects. If you are interested in these or any other pro bono opportunities please contact assistant dean for public service, Angela Schultz, for more information. If you have identified an opportunity you would like to do, complete the Pro Bono Project Pre-Approval Form before you begin to ensure the work qualifies for pro bono hours. In addition to ensuring the proposed work meets the definition of pro bono, completing the form will also alert the staff in the Office of Public Service that pro bono hours will be performed there, have been pre-approved, and will be reported.

Recording Pro Bono Hours:

Students who complete 50+ hours of pro bono work are inducted into the Pro Bono Society and graduate with an honor cord for service. Special recognition is given to those who complete 120+ hours.

Every student has a pro bono account where you can record and view hours. Hours submitted into your online account are uploaded weekly and will not appear immediately upon entry. 

It is the daily; it is the small; it is the
cumulative injuries of little people
that we are here to protect…if we are
able to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment:
Thou shalt not ration justice.

-Learned Hand, address at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Legal Aid Society of New York, Feb. 16, 1951.