Career Services
Pro Bono / Community Service
- Provides desperately needed legal services to organizations with limited resources;
- Fosters law students' pride in serving their community;
- Gives law students valuable practical experience and professional feedback;
- Lets students meet and interact with legal practitioners in the community;
- Instills goodwill on behalf of the law school, its graduates, and our community.
- Develops professional responsibility in the practice of law.
Mission:
The mission of the Pro Bono Project is to help students develop an awareness of their future ethical and professional responsibilities to provide service to their community. Participation in the program gives students the opportunity to perform valuable community service while learning about the legal needs of the underserved and developing the legal skills necessary to help meet those needs.
Pro Bono Work Defined:
Legal work performed without either compensation or academic credit, and:
a) Directly related to the delivery of legal services to indigent or underserved individuals by attorneys or organizations; or
b) For an attorney or attorneys on behalf of organizations, donations to which qualify under state or federal tax law; or
c) Law related work for federal, state or local government, including governmental agencies (ie VITA), but excluding the law school and law enforcement.
How It Works:
Beginning Fall 2008, students earning 35, 70, or 105 hours of pro bono work will achieve a general certificate, an excellence certificate, or an outstanding achievement certificate respectively.
Certificates will be awarded to graduating 3Ls, while qualifying 1Ls and 2Ls will be invited to the celebration, and encouraged to continue their good work.
You must submit an Intent to Participate form prior to starting your pro bono work. This requirement helps to protect students and pro bono agencies from the unauthorized practice of law. Until this form is signed by both the student and supervising attorney, no hours submitted will be recognized. Additionally, a signed hours log and agency evaluation by the student must be submitted by the deadline each year to qualify for a certificate.
Training Prerequisites:
Some pro bono opportunities, such as Guardian Ad Litem Program (GAL), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), and mediation programs require substantial training hours before a student can begin performing pro bono work.
If a pro bono opportunity requires training, only a portion of the training hours may be used to calculate the total number of pro bono hours. The formula is as follows: for every 30 hours of volunteer work, 10 hours of training may be added to count toward pro bono hours. For example, if 20 hours of training is required, you must work 60 volunteer hours to count the full 20 hours of training and to add them to your total pro bono hours.
Finding an Opportunity:
- Pro Bono Opportunities Chart
- PSLawNet
- Pro Bono/Public Interest Listserv
- Use the opportunities chart to find parallel agencies at home.
Pro Bono Forms
- Pro Bono Information Sheet
- Pro Bono Intent to Participate
- Pro Bono Hours Log
- Pro Bono Evaluation
- Pro Bono Brochure
Questions?
Contact Kristen Bryant, Assistant Director:
Ofc: (352) 273-0860
Email: bryantk@law.ufl.edu
- Provides needed support to a limitless variety of community based projects;
- Helps develop an awareness of grassroots issues;
- Creates a bond between the students and their community to carry into their professional career;
- Instills goodwill on behalf of the law school, its graduates, and our community.
Mission:
The mission of the Community Service Project is to help students develop an awareness of the issues and needs permeating their greater community. Participation in the program gives students the opportunity to explore a wide variety of interests, while networking in the community.
Community Service Work defined:
Non-legal work performed without either compensation or academic credit, and:
a) Related to meeting the needs of the indigent or underserved; or
b) For the betterment of the environment and/or community at large;
c) Excludes ambassadors and student recruiting.
How It Works:
Beginning Fall 2008, students earning 35, 70, or 105 hours of community service work will achieve a general certificate, an excellence certificate, or an outstanding achievement certificate respectively.
Certificates will be awarded to graduating 3Ls, while qualifying 1Ls and 2Ls will be invited to the celebration, and encouraged to continue their good work.
You must submit an Intent to Participate form prior to starting your community service work. This requirement helps to protect students and community service agencies by having a third party informed of contact information and type of work anticipated. Additionally, a signed hours log must be submitted by the deadline each year to qualify for a certificate.
Training Prerequisites:
Some community service opportunities require substantial training hours before a student can begin performing community service work.
If a community service opportunity requires training, only a portion of the training hours may be used to calculate the total number of community service hours. The formula is as follows: for every 30 hours of volunteer work, 10 hours of training may be added to count toward community service hours. For example, if 20 hours of training is required, you must work 60 volunteer hours to count the full 20 hours of training and to add them to your total community service hours.
Finding an Opportunity:
- Comm Svc Opportunities Chart
- SFCC Comm Svc List
- Use the opportunities chart to find parallel agencies at home.
Comm Svc Forms
Questions?
Contact Kristen Bryant, Assistant Director:
Ofc: (352) 273-0860
email: bryantk@law.ufl.edu