Go back to top of page

Go back to top of page

Go back to top of page

These schools require students to perform a set number of hours of law-related public service. The number of hours required by these schools ranges from 20 to 70. The students' service is pro bono as they receive neither academic credit nor pay for their service.

Public Service Graduation Requirement:

These schools require students to perform law-related public service or to be exposed to poverty law through a class or independent study. The ways in which the graduation requirement can be met vary from school to school. Eligible service options include the completion, in a public interest setting, of a pro bono placement, externship, clinic, and/or internship.

Community Service Graduation Requirement:

This school requires students to perform a set number of hours of public service. Eligible service options include both law and non-law related placements. The students receive neither pay nor academic credit for their service.

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator(s):

These schools have a formal pro bono program designed to match students through a referral system with law-related pro bono opportunities in the community. These programs have a designated pro bono coordinator/advisor, or group of coordinators/advisors, who has the responsibility of developing, promoting and/or coordinating pro bono placements. In some schools, these coordinators/advisors also provide administrative support to in-house and collaborative student group projects. Students participate voluntarily.

Formal Voluntary Program with Administrative Support for Student Group Projects:

These schools promote pro bono service primarily through the provision of administrative support for student groups engaged in law-related pro bono work. The student groups often work in collaboration or partnership with outside organizations. The type of support provided by the school ranges from full-time staffing of a center where the pro bono projects may locate to administrative assistance in tracking hours volunteered. Students participate voluntarily.

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects:

Schools in this category have no formal program for school-wide pro bono coordination and support, but individual pro bono projects--usually student organized and run--do exist. These group projects generally target a particular legal need or a particular segment of the population. Most groups work with a faculty supervisor and/or in collaboration with an outside organization.

The initial version of this document was first published by Cynthia F. Adcock, then Director of the AALS Pro Bono Project, in 2001 and incorporates data gathered since 2001 by Ms. Adcock, as Consultant to the ABA/AALS Law School Pro Bono Project (2001-02) and, subsequent to 2002, by the staff of the ABA Center for Pro Bono. The information in this chart is based on returned surveys, follow-up contact, content provided previously and public information. In 2006, data was also gathered from Equal Justice Work's Law School Public Interest Survey. See Introduction for further background.