Pro Bono Pledge Program

Our deepest thanks and congratulations to the 176 students who took the Pro Bono Pledge this year, and to those who met their annual and 'lifetime' Pledge goals! Since October 2011 students have reported over 13,300 hours of legal pro bono and community volunteer activity.

Seattle University School of Law and the Access to Justice Institute (ATJI) are committed to preparing its graduates for a lifetime in law at the service of justice. In furtherance of our mission and aligned with the American Bar Association's and Washington State Bar Association's goals for professional attorneys, the Pro Bono Pledge Program is designed to encourage law students to build their legal and leadership skills in service to the community. The voluntary Pro Bono Pledge Program also helps track, acknowledge, and celebrate student pro bono and volunteer activity.

Through the Pro Bono Pledge Program, we invite and encourage all law students to pledge to complete at least 100 hours* of legal pro bono and community volunteer work before they graduate. 

The program is voluntary, but those who meet their pledge goals will be recognized for their contributions both at the Access to Justice Institute's (ATJI's) annual Celebration of Social Justice and at graduation. If you haven't done any pro bono activity yet, the Pledge is a great way to get started. If you have, we are grateful, and we hope you'll sign on and start sharing info about the great work you're doing!

*100 hours is encouraged for current and future 1L students over the 'lifetime' of their 3+ year law school education; current 2L, 3L and part-time students may pledge a pro-rated amount as described below.

Pledge Now

Report Pro Bono/Volunteer Hours

What is Pro Bono?

In the legal profession, pro bono typically refers to work that is performed voluntarily and free of charge to help people of limited means. The term "pro bono" comes from the Latin phrase pro bono publico, meaning "for the public good." Some examples of how law students can engage in legal pro bono service include:

• Interning at a legal services organization or government agency
• Helping a private attorney with a pro bono case
• Working with a volunteer attorney to advise a nonprofit organization
• Staffing a drop-in clinic with a bar association or student organization
• Conducting know-your-rights presentations at an area community center

For the purposes of this Pledge program, if you are helping an individual or community of limited means through other avenues, like clinics, externships, activities for academic credit, or paid positions, some of those hours can count as well. A certain portion of your hours can also come from general 'community volunteer' activities that are not legal in nature (like volunteering for Habitat for Humanity). Click here to learn more!

Why Do Pro Bono?

In addition to recognition by the school, pro bono service provides an opportunity for you to give back to your community, help meet critical legal needs and learn more about the issues you care about, all while gaining practical experience, building your legal and leadership skills, and developing a network of professional contacts. Moreover, pro bono is an obligation of all members of the legal profession, and the Pledge Program allows you to start a lifelong commitment to valuable pro bono and volunteer work. Why NOT do pro bono?

To watch attorneys from across sectors discuss their commitment to pro bono activity and how it has helped their legal careers, click here: Pledge Pro Bono Kickoff: Helping Others while Enhancing Your Career. (10/13/2011).

How Does It Work?

• Step 1: Sign the Pro Bono Pledge.
• Step 2: Do pro bono or volunteer hours (click here for help finding an opportunity).
• Step 3: Report your hours online briefly for them to count toward your pledged goal.

And that's it! Just keep submitting your activity, and when you meet your yearly and 'lifetime' pledge targets we look forward to celebrating with you.

Class Year	Total Hours Completed By Graduation
Full-time 1L (graduating in Spring 2014)	100 hours (75 legal pro bono)
Full-time 2L (graduating in Spring 2013)*	80 hours (60 legal pro bono) starting this year OR 100 hours (75 legal pro bono) including activities dating back to your 1L year
Full-time 3L (graduating in Spring 2012)*	40 hours (30 legal pro bono) starting this year OR 80 hours (60 legal pro bono) including activities dating back to your 2L year OR 100 hours (75 legal pro bono) including activities dating back to your 1L year
Part-time 1L	50 hours (35 hours legal pro bono)
Part-time 2L*	40 hours (30 legal pro bono) OR 50 hours (35 legal pro bono) including activities dating back to your 1L year
Part-time 3L or 4L*	20 hours (15 legal pro bono) OR 40 hours (30 legal pro bono) including activities dating back to your 2L year OR 50 hours (35 hours legal pro bono) including activities dating back to your 1L year

 * 2Ls, 3Ls, and 4Ls may choose either to submit activities just from the current year or, if you'd like to include activities from prior years, you may be recognized for those accomplishments as well, provided that you 1) reach the higher hours target described above and 2) that we can verify your participation with a supervisor.

Pledge Now

Report Pro Bono/Volunteer Hours

 

Please note that The Access to Justice Institute is not a direct legal services provider. If you are working with someone who is need of an attorney, please visit http://washingtonlawhelp.org or call 2-1-1 if you are inside of King County. If you are outside of King County, call Coordinated Legal Educational Advice Referral (CLEAR) at 1-888-201-1014.