Legal Commentary

According to A Handbook on Law School Pro Bono Programs, published by the AALS in June 2001, "123 law schools currently have pro bono opportunities available for their students." These programs are relatively new, with Tulane in 1987 becoming "the first American law school to institute an administratively supported service program for the express purpose of instilling an ethic of pro bono service within all law students. This program was also the first pro bono graduation requirement in an American law school, requiring all students to perform 20 hours of law-related public service in their third year of law school." 

According to the report, as of 2001, 14 schools, including Tulane, have "pro bono graduation requirements programs," i.e., they "require students to perform a set number of hours of law-related public service. The number of hours required by these programs ranges from 20 to 70. The students? service is pro bono as they receive neither academic credit nor pay for their service."  Another 12 schools have "public service requirement programs," under which they "require students to perform law-related public service but are flexible in the form of the service, allowing service in pro bono placements, externships, clinics, and/or internships to count towards the requirement. Some of these programs allow the requirement to be met only through participation in a for-credit clinic. A few of the programs do not require actual service but allow the requirement to be met by exposure to poverty law through a class or independent study." Gonzaga's program is similar to this latter type of program, "except that it allows non-legal service to meet the graduation requirement." The remaining schools have voluntary pro bono/public service opportunities under which they might utilize a referral system or public service center.

Having never been at a school with a mandatory pro bono/public service requirement, I am curious if those at such schools could share their experiences. It seems like a great idea to me, but obviously there are also costs involved. I am thus curious to see how those with personal knowledge have seen such requirements play out. I am also curious to see how those at schools without such a requirement feel about adding one. You can respond by answering the following poll and/or leaving a comment.

-Colin Miller