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Information for Pro Bono Project Supervisors

The Pro Bono Program is always in need of quality pro bono opportunities for law student volunteers. Student volunteers must be supervised by either a Law School faculty member or an attorney in order to ensure that they receive adequate training, mentoring and feedback. If you would like to request the pro bono services of a law student, please complete our Request for Assistance Form and return it to us via email (lawprobono@virginia.edu) or fax (434-924-3945).

Once the completed form is returned and approved, your opportunity will be posted on the pro bono database and an email alert will be sent to students encouraging them to apply. Student applications and resumes will be forwarded to project supervisors for their review and applicant selection. At the conclusion of the project, supervisors will be asked to complete an evaluation form and to sign the student’s pro bono hours log (provided via email).

The best pro bono projects for students are semester- or yearlong projects requiring a consistent time commitment of 3-6 hours a week. Short-term research and writing projects that can be done remotely in conjunction with either a pending case or other advocacy work also work well.  Requests that are submitted at the beginning of the fall (late August) or spring (late January) semesters will have a better chance of being completed. Students are generally unavailable during exams periods (roughly the end of November to mid-December and the end of April to mid-May). We cannot guarantee student availability for any project or the approval of any project for the purposes of credit towards the Pro Bono Challenge.

Supervising Volunteer Law Students — Some Helpful Hints

We appreciate your willingness to work with a law student volunteer and to provide them with an opportunity to develop valuable legal skills while serving a client in need.
To ensure that your experience with your student volunteer is as positive and productive as possible, please review the following tips for effective supervision.

1. Clarify your expectations for the project with your law student volunteer as soon as possible, including all important deadlines.
2. Include your student volunteer in case-related activities whenever possible, particularly meetings with clients.
3. Provide ongoing feedback to reduce student anxiety and to enhance their ability to produce a quality work product. 
4. Discuss and monitor compliance with ethical issues, such as conflicts, unauthorized practice and confidentiality. 

At the beginning of your supervisory relationship, talk with your student volunteer about the importance of prioritizing pro bono assignments, meeting internal/external deadlines, assuming a professional demeanor with clients and office staff, and dressing appropriately for court and the office. At the conclusion of the project, conduct an exit interview with your student to discuss their performance and offer any advice for future projects.

If you have any questions or concerns about your student volunteer, you should contact Assistant Dean for Pro Bono Kimberly Emery at 424-924-1419 or lawprobono@virginia.edu.