Spotlight on pro bono

A national conference on “The Role of Law Schools in Fostering Commitment to Pro Bono Publico” will take place October 5 and 6 at the Columbus School of Law of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

One topic will be what law schools are already doing to meet their obligations under the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools, Section 302(b)(2): “A law school shall offer substantial opportunities for student participation in pro bono activities.”

One resource is an online directory of law school pro bono programs, which includes information on the opportunities available to students in our Illinois law schools.

Although there are about 20 law schools nationwide that actually require law students to engage in pro bono activities in order to graduate, none are in Illinois.

Instead, our law schools encourage law students through other means to participate in pro programs. Pro bono in our law schools is truly a voluntary activity, just as it is for Illinois attorneys.

My school, the University of Illinois College of Law, encourages law student pro bono work by offering a “Pro Bono Notation” that appears on the graduate's transcripts and is also noted in the graduation program.

To qualify, a student must provide 60 hours of services that are “legal in nature” and are supervised by a licensed attorney. The work can be done for any not-for-profit or governmental agency, including a judge's chambers.

Of course, the work must be done without any monetary compensation; and only 1/12th of the hours spent working in clinical and externship programs for academic credit can be applied toward the pro bono notation (with a 20 hour maximum).

In May 2006, 22 of the 217 graduates received the pro bono notation. In May 2007, that number increased substantially, with 49 of the 223 graduates qualifying for the notation on their transcripts and in the graduation program.

The University of Illinois also has a longstanding Prisoners' Rights Research Project and a new Immigration Law Society. Both provide free legal services under the supervision of faculty members.

The Chicago-Kent College of Law is host for an annual reception at which a “Certificate of Service” is awarded to each student who completes at least 50 hours of volunteer service.

The “Dean's Distinguished Public Service Award” is given to students who complete at least 250 hours of volunteer service, and their names are displayed on a plaque in the building.

The Northern Illinois University College of Law also provides a transcript notation for law students who provide 60 hours of pro bono service. Loyola, Chicago-Kent and the University of Chicago have Street Law programs.

Although all law schools provide “some opportunities” to law students for pro bono legal work, the ABA requirement is to provide “substantial opportunities.” This brings us back to the conference on The Role of Law Schools in Fostering Commitment to Pro Bono Publico.

It will look at ways for law schools to expand pro bono opportunities for law students, in partnerships with alumni and other legal professionals, and it will look at ways that law schools can foster in each graduate a lifetime commitment to pro bono service.

Conference leaders hope that interested members of the bench and bar will attend, along with law school faculty and staff.

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