FAQs: Chase Pro Bono Service Program
Why Pro Bono Service?
All lawyers should aspire to render some legal services without fee for the good of the public. The goal of the Chase Pro Bono Service Program is to instill in our students a commitment to provide pro bono services as a member of the legal profession. As an educational program, the Pro Bono Service Program will help students gain legal skills, expose them to various areas of the law, and enhance their contact with the legal community.
What Is The Pro Bono Service Requirement?
All students entering Chase in the fall of 2008 and thereafter must complete 50 hours of pro bono service as a graduation requirement. Fifty hours is a minimum requirement; students are encouraged to perform additional hours if they so choose.
What Is The Timing For Completing The Requirement?
The 50 hours of pro bono work should be completed no later than 30 days in advance of the student's graduation date. First year students may engage in pro bono activities during their second semester of their first year. Many placements will only be appropriate for students who have completed their first year of law school. Students may perform pro bono work during the academic year or during the summer.
What Constitutes Eligible Work?
Pro bono work is broadly defined as law-related work performed in public interest, pro bono, or other non-profit organizations; in the public sector (governments, legislatures, courts); with private practitioners or law firms where the work is performed at no cost or at a reduced fee on behalf of underrepresented clients. The work performed by the student must be uncompensated and not for academic credit. Students must be supervised by an attorney, Chase faculty member, legislator, or advocate with expertise in the relevant subject matter.
What Organizations Qualify For Pro Bono Placements?
The types of qualifying organizations for pro bono placements include the following: legal aid; public defender; public interest firms; non-profit organizations; firm or private attorney performing pro bono work; government or quasi-governmental entity; legislators; community legal education; faculty based projects; Chase pro bono projects which include the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, the Street Law Program and the Chase Law Advocate Program.
Which Organizations Are Approved Placement Sites?
Organizations offering placements will complete the Placement Opportunity form and submit it to the Pro Bono Program office. The Associate Dean for Student Affairs will approve all placement opportunities. A list of Approved Pro Bono Placements Sites is available to students on a password protected area of the pro bono program website. A student may initiate a pro bono project at an organization not listed as an approved placement site, by submitting the Student-Initiated Pro Bono Placement form for approval by the Associate Dean.
How Does Pro Bono Service Relate To Clinical Placements Or Employment?
While students may not receive monetary compensation or academic credit for work done to satisfy the pro bono requirement, students may in some cases be able to perform their pro bono work at their place of employment or at a placement site where the student worked in a clinical course or in an externship program. Please consult the Pro Bono Service Program Handbook for further information.
How Does The Placement Process Work?
The student selects an organization from the list of Approved Pro Bono Placements and then contacts the organization to set up an initial appointment to discuss the placement opportunity. Alternatively, a student may submit the Student-Initiated Pro Bono Placement form to the Associate Dean for approval. After the student and placement supervisor have met and agreed on the placement, the Placement Confirmation Agreement form should be completed and signed by both the student and supervisor and returned to the Pro Bono Service Program office. More detailed information about the placement process and the required paperwork can be found in the Pro Bono Service Program Handbook.
Who Do I Contact With Questions Or Concerns About The Pro Bono Service Program?
Please contact Associate Dean Molly Tami, who directs the Chase Pro Bono Service Program, at 859-572-5884 or tamim1@nku.edu. She will assist students in finding a placement and resolving any issues they might encounter during the placement, while also working with placement sites to address their needs and concerns.