Category or Type of Program

Definition

There are three models for structuring a law school pro bono program, with two models having sub-types. The models are:

Graduation Requirement Programs: The Graduation Requirement Program model requires students to engage in public service as a condition of graduation. There are three types of these mandatory programs.

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program: These programs require students to perform a set number of hours of law-related public service. The number of hours required by these programs ranges from 20 to 70. The students' service is pro bono as they receive neither academic credit nor pay for their service. A few of these programs allow non-legal service to count towards part of the requirement.

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program: The way in which this type of graduation requirement can be met varies from school to school. Most programs require students to perform law-related public service but are flexible in the form of the service, allowing service in pro bono placements, externships, clinics, and/or internships to count towards the requirement. Some of these programs allow the requirement to be met only through participation in a for-credit clinic. A few of the programs do not require actual service but allow the requirement to be met by exposure to poverty law through a class or independent study.

Community Service Graduation Requirement Program: This type of program is identical to the Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program except that it allows both law and non-law related service to satisfy completely the graduation requirement. The student receives neither pay nor academic credit for their service.

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Programs: There are two types of these programs.

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator: The referral system is designed to match students 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 student group projects. Students participate voluntarily.

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by 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 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 with no school-wide pro bono program

The third model for structuring a pro bono program is to rely on students to form and run group projects. There is no formal program for school-wide pro bono coordination and support, but individual pro bono projects-usually student organized and run - do exist. The student groups 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. Some of the groups are long-standing and raise their own funding.

List of Responding Schools

Albany Law School: Albany Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

American University: Washington College of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Appalachian School of Law: Appalachian School of Law

Community Service Graduation Requirement Program

Arizona State University: Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for In-house and Collaborative Student Group Projects

Arizona Summit Law School:

Ave Maria: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program

Barry University: School of Law

Community Service Graduation Requirement Program

Baylor University: Baylor University Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Boston College: Boston College Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Boston University: Boston University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Brigham Young University: J. Reuben Clark Law School

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by Administrative Support for in-house and Collaborative Student Group Projects.

Brooklyn Law School: Brooklyn Law School

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by Administrative Support for In- house and Collaborative Student Group Projects

California Western: California Western School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Campbell University: Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law

A Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by both a Referral System with a Coordinator and by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Capital University Law School: Capital University Law School

A Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinators

Case Western Reserve University: Case Western Reserve University Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Catholic University of America: Columbus School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Chapman University: Dale E. Fowler School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program

Charleston School of Law: Charleston School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

City University of New York: CUNY School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

Cleveland State University: Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Columbia University: Columbia University School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Cornell: Cornell Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Creighton University: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator and School-Sponsored Pro Bono Projects

DePaul University: College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Drake University: Drake University Law School

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Drexel University: Thomas R. Kline School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Duke University: Duke University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Duquesne University: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Elon University: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Emory University: Emory University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Faulkner University: Thomas Goode Jones School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Florida A&M University: College of Law

Florida Coastal School of Law: Florida Coastal School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Florida International University: University College of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Florida State University: Florida State University College of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Fordham University: Fordham University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects.

George Mason University: Antonin Scalia Law School

George Washington University: George Washington University Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program

Georgetown University: Georgetown University Law Center

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Georgia State University: College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator Program

Golden Gate University: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Gonzaga University: Gonzaga University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program with Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Harvard University: Harvard Law School

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

Hofstra University: Hofstra University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Howard University: Howard University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Illinois Institute of Technology: Chicago-Kent College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Indiana University: Maurer School of Law (Bloomington)

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Inter American University of Puerto Rico: Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement

IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law:

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

John Marshall: Law School – Atlanta

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Lewis & Clark: Lewis & Clark Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Liberty University: School of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program

Louisiana State University: Paul M. Hebert Law Center

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program.

Loyola Law School: Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

Loyola University Chicago: Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator and Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program.

Loyola University New Orleans: Loyola University New Orleans School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

Marquette University: Marquette University Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Mercer University: School of Law

Michigan State University: College of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program.

Mississippi College: Mississippi College School of Law

Independent In-house and Collaborative Student Group Projects

Mitchell Hamline School of Law: Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program by a Referral System with a Coordinator

New England School of Law: New England School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for In-house and Collaborative Student Group Projects

New York Law School: New York Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

New York University: New York University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

North Carolina Central: North Carolina Central School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Northeastern University: Northeastern University School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

Northern Illinois University: Northern Illinois University College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Northern Kentucky University: Salmon P. Chase College of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Northwestern University: Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Notre Dame: Notre Dame Law School

Independent In-house and Collaborative Student Group Projects

Nova Southeastern University: Shepard Broad College of Law

A graduation requirement program – public service graduation requirement (which includes community service and/or pro bono service in any combination of hours served). As well as a formal voluntary pro bono program characterized by a referral system with a coordinator.

Ohio Northern: Claude W. Pettit College of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program

Ohio State University: Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Oklahoma City University: Oklahoma City University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Pace University: Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program

Pennsvylvania State: Penn State Law

Pennsylvania State University: Pennsylvania State – Dickinson Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Pepperdine University: Rick J. Caruso School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico: Faculty of Law

Quinnipiac University: School of Law

Regent University: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Roger Williams University: School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Rutgers Law School, Camden location: The State University of New Jersey School of Law, Camden

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Rutgers Law School, Newark location: The State University of New Jersey, Center for Law and Justice (Newark)

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Saint John's University: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects.

Saint Louis University: Saint Louis University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Saint Mary’s University of San Antonio: Saint Mary’s University of San Antonio School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects.

Saint Thomas University: Saint Thomas University College of Law (FL)

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement.

Samford University: Cumberland School of Law

Formal voluntary pro bono program characterized by a referral system with a coordinator

Santa Clara University: Santa Clara University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Seattle University: Seattle University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Seton Hall University: Seton Hall University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

South Texas College: South Texas College of Law Houston

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Southern Illinois University: Southern Illinois University School of Law

Graduation Requirement Program

Southern Methodist University: Dedman School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement. Students must complete 30 hours of pro bono service as a requirement for graduation.

Southern University: Law Center

Southwestern Law School:

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Stanford Law School:

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Stetson University: Stetson University College of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Suffolk University Law School: Suffolk University Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program - Referral System with a Coordinator

SUNY Buffalo Law School:

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Program

Syracuse University: College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

Temple University: James E. Beasley School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Texas A & M University: Texas A & M University School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Texas Southern University: Thurgood Marshall School of Law

Texas Tech University School of Law: Texas Tech University School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

Touro College: Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

Tulane University: Tulane University School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement

UIC John Marhall Law School:

University of Akron: C. Blake McDowell Law Center

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

University of Alabama: University of Alabama School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

University of Arizona: James E. Rogers College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Arkansas: School of Law - Fayetteville

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Arkansas at Little Rock: William H. Bowen School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Baltimore: School of Law

University of California at Davis: University of California at Davis School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator(s). Also a limited community service graduation requirement for students in the Public Interest Law Program which is an academic certificate and pro bono program. Students,

University of California, Berkeley: University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

University of California-Hastings: College of the Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinators

University of California-Irvine: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by referral system with a Pro Bono Coordinator

University of California-Los Angeles: University of California-Los Angeles

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program – hybrid of referral system with a coordinator and administrative support for student group projects

University of Chicago: University of Chicago Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

University of Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati College of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Colorado: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Connecticut: University of Connecticut School of Law

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

University of Dayton: University of Dayton School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

University of Denver: Sturm College of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

University of Detroit: Mercy School of Law

University of Florida: Fredric G. Levin College of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Georgia: School of Law

Independent Student Group Projects with no school-wide program.

University of Hawaii: William S. Richardson School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement

University of Houston: University of Houston Law Center

University of Idaho: College of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

University of Illinois: University of Illinois College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for In-house and Collaborative Student Group Projects

University of Iowa: University of Iowa College of Law

A Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Kansas: School of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program

University of Kentucky: College of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program.

University of Louisville: Brandeis School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

University of Maine: University of Maine School of Law

Formal Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Maryland: Francis King Carey School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

University of Massachusetts: School of Law - Dartmouth

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

University of Memphis: Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

University of Miami: University of Miami School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Michigan: University of Michigan Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Minnesota: University of Minnesota Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Mississippi: School of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program.

University of Missouri: Kansas City School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Missouri - Columbia: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Montana: University of Montana School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement

University of Nebraska: University of Nebraska College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

University of Nevada, Las Vegas: William S. Boyd School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement

University of New Hampshire: University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of New Mexico: University of New Mexico School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement

University of North Carolina: University of North Carolina School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Oklahoma: College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Oregon: University of Oregon School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator.

University of Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Law School

University of Pittsburgh: School of Law

Formal voluntary Pro Bono Program characterized by Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Puerto Rico: School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

University of Richmond: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Saint Thomas: School of Law (MN)

Community Service Graduation Requirement

University of San Diego: University of San Diego School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for In-house and Collaborative Group Projects

University of San Francisco: University of San Francisco School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of South Carolina: University of South Carolina School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of South Dakota: University of South Dakota School of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program

University of South Dakota: School of Law

University of Southern California: University of Southern California Gould School of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program

University of Tennessee: University of Tennessee College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects

University of Texas at Austin: University of Texas at Austin School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of the District of Columbia: David A. Clarke School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

University of the Pacific: McGeorge School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono characterized by a referral system with coordinator(s)

University of Toledo: College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Tulsa: College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Utah: S. J. Quinney College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Virginia: University of Virginia School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

University of Washington: University of Washington School of Law

Public Service Graduation Requirement Program

University of Wisconsin: Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

University of Wyoming: School of Law

Vanderbilt University: Vanderbilt University Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Vermont Law School: Vermont Law School

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program

Villanova University: Charles Widger School of Law

Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program. Also, recipients of Villanova's public interest scholarships are required to perform pro bono as law students in addition to expectations post-graduation.

Wake Forest University: Wake Forest University School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Washburn University: School of Law

Washington and Lee University: School of Law

Graduation Requirement Program

Washington University: School of Law

Formal Voluntary Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Wayne State University: Wayne State University Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

West Virginia University: West Virginia University College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School:

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program with referral system and coordinator.

Western New England University: School of Law

Pro Bono Graduation Requirement Program

Western State University: Western State University College of Law

A Formal Voluntary Program characterized by a referral system with a coordinator.

Widener University: Delaware Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator

Widener University: Widener University Commonwealth Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator

Willamette University: Willamette University College of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator.

William and Mary: Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinators

Yale University: Yale Law School

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for In-house and Collaborative Group Projects

Yeshiva University: Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator.

12/16/2022