Since 1991, pro bono service has been a key component of the leadership development of Duke law students. As one of the earliest formal law school programs in the country, the Pro Bono Project takes learning beyond the classroom, connecting students with attorneys working in non-profit and governmental organizations as well as private pro bono practice to explore and contribute to public service, sharpen their legal and professional skills, and build relationships important to their future careers.
Students also are educated about the gaps in the legal delivery system and are given the chance to become involved in work that benefits the community, such as providing legal services to low-income individuals, researching important policy issues, participating in the legislative or judicial system, or teaching constitutional law to high school students.
The Pro Bono Pledge
At Duke Law School, while all students are encouraged to participate, participation in the Pro Bono Project is voluntary, keeping with Duke's emphasis on self-awareness, self-motivation, and responsibility for one's own career. All students are invited to sign the Pro Bono Pledge, with which they commit to contribute a minimum of 50 hours of law-related community service, including pro bono or clinic field work, during their time as students.
Placements
The Pro Bono Project offers more than 100 placements, varying in location, substantive law area, job function, and time requirement, to fit students' interests and needs. Students have worked as court-appointed Guardian ad Litems, in various divisions of the NC Attorney General's Office, for judges, and with non-profit advocacy groups. Descriptions of placements, both new and established, can be found on the Pro Bono Placement Master List, available online and in the Office of Public Interest and Pro Bono (Room 4050). The Placement List is only available to Duke Law students. If you do not know the login and password, please contact the Office of Public Interest and Pro Bono.
Students may choose from more than 30 areas of law, including criminal prosecution and defense, environmental issues, community economic development, consumer protection, migrant law, civil rights and liberties, and international law. New topics and projects are added each year at an organization or student's request.
The Pro Bono Project also provides numerous job functions for students to choose from. These include legal research and writing, client interviewing, case investigation, trial preparation, policy analysis, or certified court practice. Projects such as Street Law and Guardian ad Litem give students the chance to teach constitutional law in local high schools and serve as the court-appointed representatives for allegedly abused or neglected children in Durham.
The Associate Dean of Public Interest and Pro Bono, Carol Spruill, is available to advise students on placement opportunities that suit their individual backgrounds and aspirations. Before making an appointment with Dean Spruill, please be sure to read the Pro Bono Placement Master List and complete the relevant portion of the Student Information Sheet for Pro Bono & Employment Advice.
If you know that the placement you want is in a single issue area - such as environmental law, domestic violence law, or asylum law - please see the student pro bono coordinator in charge of that area (they are named on the Master List of Placements).
Student Pro Bono Groups
The Pro Bono Project also offers students the opportunity to design and implement new Pro Bono groups, allowing students to serve as student leaders or as placement coordinators in various subject areas. Students have created numerous pro bono activities, including The Refugee Asylum Support Project, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocacy Project (DVSAAP), and the Innocence Project, each demonstrating the values of leadership and commitment to community that are furthered through the Pro Bono Project.
Learn more about the various student groups.
Pro Bono in your first year?
The lawyer's answer: Maybe. During the first semester, students are busy settling into a new environment and adjusting to new study and work schedules, so it may be difficult to fit pro bono work into an already packed schedule. However, many students have had very meaningful pro bono experiences, and say that it helped keep them grounded throughout the first year of study. More than half of the of the first-year class participates in the pro bono project. Whatever the situation, the decision to participate in the Pro Bono Project is a personal choice, one that should consider your needs as well the needs of others.