Pro Bono Project

What is the Pro Bono Project?

The Pro Bono Project is designed for and by Santa Clara University School of Law students. The Project is committed to supporting community-based legal service projects. In order to accomplish this goal, the Project depends on the dedication and commitment of student volunteers. The Pro Bono Project provides an arena where students can become involved in the community and also enhance their law school experience.

Community-based legal service organizations and the student volunteers who serve them are very important because many of these organizations are unable to afford the help needed to ensure that their clients’ rights are protected. The work of the Project’s volunteers helps to assure that protection.

As a Project volunteer, you will aid those in need while incorporating public service work into the law school curriculum. Project volunteers interview clients, gather evidence, and do legal research and writing, in addition to assisting with other non-legal services.

In addition to the personal satisfaction of volunteering much-needed assistance and gaining valuable and practical legal experience, students are eligible to receive a Pro Bono Project Award from Santa Clara University School of Law. All it takes is 50 hours of not-for-credit or compensation work for a public interest or non-profit organization during the school year (May to May).

Who is Eligible to Participate?

All Santa Clara law students are eligible to participate. The awards are given during the Public Interest and Social Justice Law Celebration and Graduation Ceremony at the end of each year for the prior year’s work. For instance, the ceremony in May 2004 presented awards to 82 students for volunteer work completed from May 2003 to May 2004. The only restrictions are as follows:

• Volunteer work will NOT qualify simultaneously for both the Pro Bono Award and the Public Interest and Social Justice Law Certificate; the volunteer component of each must be done separately.
• Volunteer work must be completed with a public interest or non-profit organization or non-professional government office, such as, District Attorney, Attorney General and Public Defender’s office.
• Membership or participation in on-campus clubs or organizations does not count for pro bono hours (except for service as a club officer).

How Do I Qualify?

To ensure that your work qualifies, speak to a Public Interest Law Career Services (PILCS) Career Counselor (either Sue Lake or Karin Frenza) in the Law Career Services office at 890 Washington Street . The following steps are required to qualify:

• Confirmation by a PILCS Career Counselor that the organization is a public interest or non-profit organization.
• Completion of at least 50 hours of not-for-credit or not-for-compensation work during the May to May time period.
• Completion of the Work Verification Form, certifying the completion of at least 50 hours of work (available in the Public Interest Law Career Services office or on-line below).
• Receipt of the Verification Form by Wednesday, April 6, 2005 .

For More Information

Drop by the PILCS office located at 890 Washington Street , or call (408) 261-2539.

2004-05 Work Verification forms are due
Wednesday, April 6, 2005 .

          2004-05 Work Verification Forms