What is the 1L Pro Bono Service Project?

A project designed specifically for first-year students interested in doing law-related volunteer work BUT who do not want to make a substantial time commitment---only five hours a week or less.  Participating in the 1L Pro Bono Service Project (1LPBSP) is a great way to serve the community, gain exposure to the real world of lawyering, and accumulate hours towards your Pro Bono Pledge goal, if you choose.

What is the Pro Bono Pledge?

All incoming first year law students are asked to pledge at least 75 hours of volunteer work before graduation, 50 hours of which must be law-related.  You can complete all 75 hours your first year, or spread them out over all three years.  You can find more information and sign up for the Pro Bono Pledge here.  When you volunteer, you will keep track of your hours on a time sheet and at the end of each semester turn them in to OPICS.  We will keep a running total of the hours you volunteer and inform you periodically if you have met your Pledge goal and if not, how many hours you have to complete to do so.  Any time spent volunteering for an organization through the 1LPBSP counts towards the Pledge.

What type of organizations participate in the 1LPBSP?

Primarily those that provide legal services to low-income individuals living in DC or the surrounding metropolitan area.  Below is a sampling of the practice areas of some of the participating organizations:

What kind of work will I do if I volunteer?

Organizations need students to assist with a wide variety of tasks including: interviewing clients, investigating cases, filing court pleadings, accompanying clients to court, and other tasks.  Also, many organizations need students who speak a foreign language, so the project is a good way to keep up your language skills!

How and when can I apply?

The complete list of fall organizations is not availble online.  See the link at the top of this page.  After reviewing the list of available opportunities and taking a realistic look at your work load and other obligations, you can fill out a preference sheet on which you can rank your first, second and third choices.  The preference sheet for Fall 2009 will be available Tuesday, September 15th, also online.  After submitting your preference sheet online or in person, you will be informed of where you have been placed by e-mail within two weeks.

How can I find out more about the opportunities available to 1L's?

Feel free to stop by Room 212 anytime to speak with Holly Eaton, the Director of Pro Bono Programs, about the 1LPBSP, the Pledge or other volunteer opportunities.