Student pro bono work is defined as:
- Law-related assistance to lawyers providing work without a fee, or at a substantially reduced fee, to persons of limited means or to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, and educational organizations in matters that are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; or
- Law-related assistance to lawyers providing work at no fee or at a substantially reduced fee to individuals, groups or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights, or charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, and educational organizations in matters that are in furtherance of their organizational purposes, where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization’s economic resources or would be otherwise inappropriate; or
- Participation in activities intended to improve the law, the legal system or the legal profession.
Enrolling in the Pro Bono Program:
- To participate in the Pro Bono Program, you must:
(1) read and sign a Law Student Pro Bono Pledge . We encourage all students who plan to participate in the Pro Bono Program to sign the Pledge, even if you are not prepared to accept a pro bono placement immediately.
(2) read and sign a Law Student Acknowledgement of Professional Responsibility form which sets out the expectations and responsibilities of students participating in the Pro Bono Program.
Finding Pro Bono Work:
- Check the Rappaport Center’s website regularly. All new pro bono opportunities will be posted here.
- Sign up to receive the Rappaport Center’s weekly email announcements, which include updates on public service and pro bono opportunities available to law students. Email probono@suffolk.edu to be added to our listserv.
- Students enrolled in the Pro Bono Program will also periodically receive emails regarding opportunities available in indicated areas of interest.
- All pro bono opportunities publicized through the Pro Bono Program are already approved and therefore no additional steps are necessary to certify approval for these postings.
Supervision:
- All placements and pro bono work must be supervised by an attorney.
- A student's supervising attorney must sign all Pro Bono Student Work Logs,
verifying the number of hours completed during the placement.
3:03 Certification:
Who May Participate:
While first year students are permitted to participate in the Pro Bono Program, we are mindful of the time constraints and pressures of the first year of law school, and encourage all first year students to be especially cautious about taking on additional responsibilities. The Pro Bono Program Director will work with interested first year law students to find placements that require a limited time commitment and no advanced research and writing skills. Note: the Pro Bono Partners Program is open to upper-level law students only. |