PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
Villanova Law students make a difference in the lives of many by providing free legal services to people who otherwise could not afford the help they need.
Pro bono work enables students to affect the lives of others, while exploring various fields of law, networking with attorneys, and also advancing their own skills. Pro bono legal work puts classroom learning into practice through hands-on experience. Volunteers perform the work of practicing attorneys, including interviewing and counseling clients, drafting pleadings, negotiating deals and appearing in court. By using the law to help clients achieve their goals, pro bono volunteers learn about the power, and the limits, of the law and the lawyer’s role in resolving complex problems associated with poverty and powerlessness.
GETTING INVOLVED
A variety of pro bono opportunities exist for Villanova Law students, including Facilitated Pro Bono Opportunities that are coordinated with student organizations like the Pro Bono Society, opportunities through other student organizations, as well as independent volunteer work with organizations that are eager to recruit volunteer law students. In addition to our established programs, we can work with you to develop an individual pro bono project if you find an organization that better suits your interests. One resource for opportunities is the Public Service Job Directory—a database of pro bono and public interest service opportunities. We also encourage you to work closely with your faculty advisor in determining a suitable opportunity.
In recognition of their service, students who complete a set number of hours before graduation are awarded the Dorothy Day Award for Pro Bono Service.
FACILITATED OPPORTUNITIES
A Facilitated Pro Bono Opportunity is one that has the following features:
- Villanova shares these opportunities with students;
- A student liaison from the Pro Bono Society is assigned to that opportunity;
- A faculty liaison is assigned to that opportunity;
- Information regarding the opportunity (including brief description, contact person at the organization, name/email of student and faculty liaison) is provided on our website;
- Villanova students will have the opportunity to express interest in working with the opportunity by completing a webform listed in each Program Description.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
In addition, other pro bono programs are offered through student organizations at the law school, including the Pro Bono Society, the Tax Law Society and other student groups. The Pro Bono Society, for example, offers law students short-term and long-term pro bono and community services opportunities. Through the Pro Bono Society and other student groups, students have given "Know Your Rights" presentations to audiences ranging from immigrant detainees, migrant workers, people on the verge of homelessness.