Take the Warrior Pro Bono & Public Interest Pledge!

Wayne Law is devoted to training graduates who excel in the law and provide service to the community, the bench, and the bar. The goal of the Wayne Law Student Pro Bono & Public Interest Program is to encourage law students to embrace the professional responsibility of serving indigent and underserved populations, and to encourage future lawyers to incorporate public service into their careers. 

Students

In addition to the personal satisfaction derived from making a difference in the lives of others, program participants may reap a host of benefits, including:

• Hands-on legal training and experience
• Exposure to a variety of areas of law
• Opportunity to develop professional relationships within the legal community

Wayne Law students who have completed the first term of the first-year day program or two terms of the part-time evening program, have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, and are in good academic standing are eligible to participate in the Student Pro Bono & Public Interest Program. Program participants must complete the Wayne Law Pro Bono & Public Interest Pledge wherein the student agrees to perform a minimum of fifty (50) hours of supervised, qualifying pro bono/public interest work while enrolled as a Wayne Law student. Students who fulfill the Pledge and complete the requisite forms will receive a Certificate of Pro Bono & Public Interest Service and acknowledgment during law school graduation ceremonies. 

To assist program participants in fulfilling the Pledge, the Program Director will suggest preapproved pro bono projects and/or placements involving qualifying work with private attorneys, faculty members, legal services organizations, and other non-profit entities. Students are also strongly encouraged to propose independently developed projects or placements involving qualifying work. 

For more information, please reference the Pro Bono & Public Interest Student Guide, as well as the Pro Bono & Public Interest 12twenty Guide. These documents, as well as the link to take the Pledge are also located on the OCS Canvas Page. 

Employers

Request student Volunteers

Nonprofit organizations, legal services providers, community and government organizations, law firms, and individual attorneys handling matters on a free or reduced-fee basis may request volunteer law-related assistance from student participants in the Wayne Law Student Pro Bono & Public Interest Program. Though the program cannot guarantee that student volunteers will be available, it will publicize the opportunity to participating students and make every effort to match interested students with the opportunity. 

To learn more about the program, please reference the Pro Bono & Public Interest Employer Guide. To recruit pro bono student volunteers for long-term or short-term projects, or for volunteer events, complete the Student Volunteer Request form. 

For any questions or concerns, please contact lawcareers@wayne.edu for more information.