About

The Pro Bono Program was established in the fall of 1997 as a division of the UNC Law Office of Public Service Programs. It has since connected law students with hundreds of pro bono projects under the supervision of practicing attorneys in both public interest and private practice. The program is administered by a 12-student board and one faculty supervisor who work throughout the year with community partners, legal aid offices, law school student groups, professors, alumni, private attorneys, and fellow students to facilitate individual pro bono projects, special clinics, and group trips in which students can participate. Learn more about the Pro Bono Program.

Student Involvement

Pro bono projects are available to all students, and students can get involved as soon as their first semester of their 1L year. During the 2011-2012 school year:

• 69% of the Class of 2013 had completed over 5,800 hours of pro bono work
• 84% of the Class of 2012 had completed over 12,500 hours of pro bono work
• 70% of the Class of 2011 had completed over 13,000 hours of pro bono work

Pro Bono versus Public Interest

While public interest generally describes a career path of public service, including jobs in non-pofit organizations, government agencies, and district attorney or public defender offices, pro bono is legal work that anyone on any career path can and should do. Pro bono is the provision of legal services to individuals and organizations that would not otherwise have access to those services.