Pro Bono FAQ’s symplicity - Login Now
What is Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School?
What kind of work is considered pro bono?
How can students participate in the program?
How can attorneys participate in the program?
What are the student participant responsibilities in Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School?
What are the supervising attorney responsibilities in Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School?
Can students create their own Pro Bono Project?
Where can I find the Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School forms?
What is Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School?
Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School introduces law students to the professional obligation of attorneys and the benefits of providing public service, and recognizes the needs of the under-represented in society. The ultimate goal of pro bono is to encourage students to begin to embrace their role as members of the legal profession, including the responsibility of rendering public service. In addition, students will expand their legal advocacy skills in a variety of ways. The Career Development Office administers Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School.
What kind of work is considered pro bono?
Activities that qualify as “pro bono service” for purposes of this program are as follows:
• Legal work that respects and supports the Catholic mission of NDLS under the supervision of a licensed attorney and for which a student is not compensated, either with pay or with academic credit, AND
o Providing legal assistance to individuals of limited means or to charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational matters which are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means; OR
o Providing legal assistance to individuals, groups, or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights, OR
o Providing legal assistance to charitable, civic, community, governmental or educational organization in matters in furtherance of their organizational purposes, where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the organization’s economic resources or would otherwise be inappropriate.
The definition has been adapted from the guidelines suggested by the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge of the Pro Bono Institute at Georgetown University Law Center.
How can students participate in the program?
Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School is open to all Notre Dame law students who have completed their first semester of classes. Placements with participating agencies provide students a chance to gain valuable practical experience working on real cases with real clients. A key aspect of the program is its flexibility. Some placements require only a few hours of work per week while others may require more hours dedicated to the project. Placement requirements will vary from short-term projects, to semester-long projects requiring dedicated hours each week, or projects worked over the course of the school year or during winter or summer breaks. Refer to the Pro Bono postings in Symplicity for more complete details on how to apply to specific placement opportunities.
Students who wish to participate in the program need to do the following:
• Attend a Pro Bono Professionalism training session at the law school (see Symplicity for dates and times);
• Apply for a Pro Bono placement as directed in Symplicity;
• Return the commitment form to the Career Development Office;
• Track the hours and work performed on the Hours Log;
• Return the hours log at the completion of the project; and
• Complete the mandatory evaluation.
Students who wish to pursue an opportunity not found in Symplicty must have the placement approved prior to beginning work to ensure that proper supervision has been arranged.
How can attorneys participate in the program?
If you are interested utilizing the assistance of a law student in legal research, writing, or other legal advocacy in your agency or personal pro bono endeavors, please contact the Assistant Director for Public Interest to assist you with developing a posting for interested students.
What are the student participant responsibilities in Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School?
Student responsibilities include:
• Stay in regular communication with your supervising attorney. It is important the agency know what hours the student will be working and that this commitment is honored (unless unforeseen circumstances arise, in which case you should notify your supervisor). Additionally, the student must notify his or her supervisor immediately if he or she realizes that the project may not be completed as planned.
• Stay in regular communication with the Career Development Office. The Career Development Office will contact participants periodically, but students should contact the office know if there are any concerns or questions regarding the agency placement. You must notify the Career Development Office immediately if you are not able to complete the project as planned. Remember, at the completion of each pro bono project you must turn in your Hours Log so that the Assistant Director for Public Interest can verify your hours with anyone inquiring about your participation. Once the Assistant Director for Public Interest has received that log, she will send you the link for the online evaluation. The Assistant Director for Public Interestwill not be able to verify your hours to anyone inquiring about your pro bono placement until both forms have been submitted to her.
• Maintain confidentiality and act in a professional manner. In all interactions with clients and staff members at your placement agency/organization, students are expected to abide by all ethics rules and professionalism standards.
• Keep track of hours and other important paperwork. You are required to keep daily time logs and obtain your supervisor’s signature periodically. You must turn in to the Career Development Office your completed time logs and evaluation forms at the completion of your project.
What are the supervising attorney responsibilities in Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School?"
Supervising attorneys must provide adequate supervision of the students’ work and be reasonably available to provide students guidance and support.
Can students create their own Pro Bono Project?
Yes! Students who wish to pursue an opportunity not found in Symplicity must have the placement approved prior to beginning work to ensure that proper supervision has been arranged and that all program parameters have been met.
Where can I find the Pro Bono at Notre Dame Law School forms?
All the forms, except the survey instruments, which will be emailed to the participants after the Hours Log is returned to the Career Development Office, are available here.
