Pro Bono Honor Program

The Shepard Broad Law Center Pro Bono Honor Program recognizes students who provide pro bono (“for the public good”) legal work for public service or government organizations while enrolled in law school. Students volunteering a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service are awarded this graduation honor. The program is part of the Public Interest Law Center (PILC), which provides information, resources, and acknowledgement to students who are interested in serving the community through public interest law.

Who is Eligible to Participate?
All students maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA are eligible to participate. Students have a continuing obligation to notify the PILC if their GPA falls below a 2.0. Students may not receive pro bono credit if they are receiving academic credit or funding for their work.

How do I Participate?

1. Visit the Public Interest Law Center in Career Development to learn about available pro bono opportunities.
2. Select and secure a pro bono opportunity.
3. Complete the Pro Bono Honor Program packet, consisting of a Registration and Approval Form and a Log Form. Return the Registration and Approval Form to the Public Interest Law Center at the beginning of your work with the organization. You must also submit a resume and transcript. You will then receive confirmation of the project being registered with the program. Students will not be awarded retroactive pro bono credit for work performed prior to registration.
4. Complete the log form as you perform hours with the organization. When the log page is full, turn it in and begin a new log page. All forms are available in the Public Interest Law Center and on the Law Center’s website.
5. When you have finished your work with the organization, complete an evaluation form and turn in any outstanding logs. You must complete an evaluation form in order to receive the graduation honor.

Levels of Service Recognized

The graduation honor includes:
-Wearing an honor cord at graduation
-Being listed in the graduation program
-Attending a year-end reception with employers
-Receiving a certificate

Pro Bono Honor Reception

The Pro Bono Honor Reception is held every year at the Law Center. Students who have participated in the Pro Bono Honor Program are given their awards and cords to wear at graduation. Employers, professors, award recipients and their families are invited to attend this event.

Participants from the class of 2008 honored at their reception in April 2008 performed almost 13,000 hours of pro bono work during law school.

Pro Bono Honor Program Forms

• Organization Registration Form
• Log of Assignments
• Student Pro Bono Report and Evaluation