1L Pro Bono Service Project

 

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 law students are asked to pledge at least 75 hours of law-related volunteer work before graduation.  You can complete all 75 hours your first year, or spread them out over all three years.  Just fill out a Pro Bono Pledge card in the OPICS office.  Then when you volunteer, keep track of your hours on the forms provided and submit them to OPICS at the end of each semester. We will keep a running total of the hours you volunteer.  Only legal or law-related volunteer work supervised by a licensed attorney or law faculty member counts towards the Pro Bono Pledge.  Any time spent volunteering for an organization through the 1LPBSP counts towards the Pledge.

 

What types 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!

I'm interested!  What do I do next?

The complete list of organizations and a sign-up sheet will be available in the OPICS office on or about September 20th 2007.  After reviewing the list of available opportunities and taking a realistic look at your work load and other obligations, you can fill out a sign-up sheet indicating your preferences.  After submitting your preference sheet, you should receive an e-mail with information about your placement in a week or two.

 

How can I find out more about the opportunities available?

Stop by OPICS to review the comments of students who participated in the 1LPBSP last year.  Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 20th from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Room 202   We will be sponsoring a panel discussion by upper class students who participated in the 1L Pro Bono Service Project during their first year who will discuss their experiences and answer your questions.  You are encouraged to stop by Room 212 anytime to speak with Holly Eaton, the Director of Pro Bono Programs, about the 1LPBSP, the Pro Bono Pledge or other volunteer opportunities.