Pro Bono Opportunities

In addition to soaking up the sun this summer, you can also take advantage of the many pro bono opportunities available in the Bay Area. For those who are unsure what pro bono work is, it is simply work done on behalf of the public good, which means you will be volunteering your legal services without expectation of compensation or class credit. However, you will be justly rewarded with numerous benefits, such as:

1. Gaining valuable legal experience through development of your legal practice skills (e.g. interviewing clients, writing and research, or engaging in trial preparation).

2. Obtaining substantive training in different practice areas, which will help make you more marketable to potential employers.

3. Expanding your professional network by forging relationships with practicing attorneys.

For law students, LCS has compiled a list of pro bono opportunities in various practice areas that indicates your expected time commitment, spells out your responsibilities, and provides the appropriate contact information. You can find that list here.

For current graduates and our newly-minted lawyers, the San Francisco Bar Association has created its 2009 Pro Bono Resource Guide, which will greatly assist you in finding a volunteer opportunity that matches your interests. The Guide divides its pro bono opportunities into fourteen different practice areas, and it also includes who you should contact, describes the type of work you’ll be performing, indicates the training you’ll receive, and discusses your expected time commitment. You can find that guide here.