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#The Pro Bono Project - University of Virginia School of Law

Assistant Dean for Pro Bono and Public Interest Kimberly Emery and Assistant Director of Public Service Andrew Broaddus

Pro Bono Program Fast Facts, 2013-14

265 students logged pro bono hours

17,609 pro bono hours logged

105 Class of 2014 graduates completed at least 75 hours of pro bono while in law school

45 students participated in the Alternative Spring Break trip with eleven different locations (students in Washington, D.C. above)

Established in 1999, the Law School s Pro Bono Program develops, administers, and publicizes pro bono opportunities for students while responding to the volunteer needs of community groups and other outside organizations. The Pro Bono Program administers in-house projects, develops a variety of ad-hoc pro bono opportunities throughout the academic year, and supports winter and spring break pro bono projects. The Pro Bono Program, through orientation sessions, e-mail alerts, speakers and volunteer recognition and awards, encourages every student to participate in pro bono while at the Law School.

Why Do Pro Bono?

In addition to being a professional and ethical obligation, pro bono service offers many benefits to you as a volunteer. For example, pro bono work enhances your law school experience by connecting the academic work you do in the classroom to the real world of practice. Pro bono is:

• a structured way to gain practical experience in legal research and writing, client interviewing, and other advocacy skills
• an opportunity to try different practice areas or career options without committing to a summer internship or clinic
• a way to strengthen your resume by demonstrating relevant work experience and legal skills
• an opportunity to gain legal mentoring, career-planning advice, and networking contacts
• a way to produce writing samples and/or legal references
• an opportunity to interact with clients
• a way to fulfill your ethical obligation to perform 50 hours of pro bono annually (ABA Rule 6.1)
• for personal satisfaction (see sidebar testimonials for what some of our student volunteers had to say about their pro bono experiences)

How Do You Participate in the Pro Bono Program?

1. Set a goal of completing the 75-hour Pro Bono Challenge. (LL.M.s complete 25 hours)
2. Log on to GoodWorks and regularly check for new projects. If there are no projects that suit your needs or pique your interest, you can create your own pro bono opportunity by submitting a student-initiated project through GoodWorks .
3. Stay alert for pro bono emails containing updates and information about pro bono opportunities.
4. Log all of your pro bono hours using GoodWorks .