• Ad Hoc Opps
• Spring 2008-1L Pro Bono Service Project List
• Week of January 21st Pro Bono Opportunities Bulletin
• Pro Bono Pledge
• Law Firm Pro Bono

Pro Bono at Georgetown

Although law students are not yet members of the legal profession and are therefore neither obligated nor qualified to render pro bono services, at Georgetown we believe that the commitment to serve others should start in law school. Through our 1L Pro Bono Service Project and Pro Bono Pledge students have a large range of opportunities to use their developing legal skills to help those in need under the supervision of a licensed attorney.

Pro Bono opportunities during the First Year

While many law schools do not allow students to pursue pro bono placements until their second and third years of law school, we believe students should be able to decide for themselves. With the 1L Pro Bono Service Project, we facilitate first year students’ interest in pro bono by finding suitable placements with a minimal time commitment and tasks that do not require advanced legal research and writing skills. For example, students can do intake for domestic violence victims through the Emergency Domestic Relations Project at DC Superior Court. Or research country conditions in support of an immigrant’s petition for political asylum with the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. We work with about 20 local organizations to find suitable pro bono opportunities for first year students.

Pro Bono opportunities for Upper Class students

Pro Bono opportunities for students after their first year are abundant. Georgetown law students are fortunate to be attending law school in what has to be the “public interest capital of the world.” No matter what issue you are passionate about, whether shared by many or few, and regardless of which side of the political spectrum you lean toward, there is an organization somewhere in Washington, DC, probably several, focused on serving individuals affected by that issue or advocating on behalf of that cause.

Pro bono opportunities fall into two categories:

• Ad Hoc – Generally projects that can be completed in a short period of time, on a student’s own schedule and where ever the student chooses to work. In other words, the student can do the work remotely and communicate with the supervising attorney through e-mail and phone calls. These projects are ideal for upper class students that do not require as close supervision as first year students.

• Semester Long – Semester long placements generally require a commitment of 8-15 hours a week for most of a semester. The student is likely to work at the organization or agency doing a variety of tasks as assigned under the supervision of one or several attorneys. Such unpaid non-credit positions are referred to as internships. They are distinguishable from externships which are for-credit and administered by the Externship Program Coordinator, Michael Frisch.

Where can I find Pro Bono Opportunities?

First year students should refer to the 1L Pro Bono Service Project information page. Upper class students can find opportunities from several different sources:

Ad Hoc Opps - Short term, flexible, limited-commitment pro bono projects suitable for all JD’s and LLM’s.

Pro Bono Opportunities Bulletin – A weekly list of and semester long pro bono opportunities can be found online or in a printed version available in the OPICS office and on the Pro Bono & Community Service bulletin board on the first floor.

Symplicity.com – An online listing of paid job and unpaid internship positions. These are listings that have been sent to Georgetown by employers actively recruiting for the semester. You will need a password from Career Services to access these listings.  When you log onto the site, select the "Jobs" tab then next to "Pro Bono Pledge Eligible" select "Yes" from the pulldown memu.   This will return a list of current pro bono opportunities, with contact information and requirements.

PSLawNet.org – An online listing of unpaid internship positions and public interest organizations in the DC area and around the country. This site is a great way to find organization that engage in the type of work you are interested in that may not be advertising an available position. It is also a great source for students looking for summer internships with public interest organizations in other parts of the country.

The above sources are only the beginning. There are a large number of employers engaged in work that might be of interest to you that do not send out announcements. If you don’t feel drawn to any of the positions listed in the Pro Bono Bulletin or online, or if you are passionate about an issue that is not covered by the offerings from these sources, please contact OPICS to make an appointment with Holly Eaton, the Director of Pro Bono Programs. Through her knowledge of local organizations and agencies, and a large network of alums working in these offices, she can help you find a placement that is a good match for you and the organization.

Why do Pro Bono?

Those to whom the most is given, the most is expected

Law students possess special skills and abilities that have allowed them to get as far as law school. These special skills (although not yet legal skills) include the ability to problem-solve, follow through, think logically, write and speak well. Putting these skills to work for the benefit of others less fortunate is precisely what the ABA’s model rule is about. Almost anyone can do volunteer work: tutoring, coaching soccer, etc., but lawyers—and by extension law students—have special knowledge and skills not possessed by others through which the most vulnerable in our society can hope to access justice. At Georgetown we strive to inculcate in every student the spirit of service and especially to motivate them to use their unique skills and legal education for the benefit of others.

Practical experience and a break from academics

There are many other good reasons to do pro bono while in law school. For one thing, it gives you practical experience and a chance to see how lawyers practice in the real world.  So much of law school is academic and theoretical while pro bono service is hands-on and puts you in touch with individuals struggling with real problems.  It can be very refreshing to leave the books and library behind and spend a few hours doing something for the benefit of someone else.

The opportunity to narrow or expand your career choices

Perhaps you think you want to be a prosecutor after law school. You might find that interning for a prosecutor strengthens your interest in this field or informs you that it’s not for you. Conversely, you may know you want to be an investment banker but would like to see what it’s like to be in a courtroom.

A legal reference on your resume

While you may have supervisors from previous jobs who will give glowing reviews of your work for them, most legal employers prefer a reference from a fellow attorney who can comment on your legal research and writing skills. An internship might even provide you with a suitable writing sample.

Networking opportunities

If you are interested in pursuing a public interest career, whether straight out of law school or after working in the private sector for a few years, doing pro bono is essential for the networking opportunities it offers. The public interest community is a small but dedicated group of individuals and everyone knows virtually everyone else. They also know how difficult it is to find work in the public interest field and are willing go to bat for those they know and can vouch for. For those interested in making the transition from private sector to public interest at some point, it is essential to do pro bono work before and during the time you are at a firm to prove that you are truly committed to public interest work and not just another refugee from the billable hour.

 

 

 

 

 

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Revised 06/09/08 (HRE)