The Pro Bono Program
Why We Serve
“[E]qual justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building, it is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society. It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists ... it is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status.”
—JUSTICE LEWIS F. POWELL JR.
“We educated, privileged lawyers have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society, to ensure that justice exists for all, both legal and economic justice.”
—JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYOR
Established in 1999, the Law School’s Pro Bono Program cultivates a lifelong commitment to the provision of legal services to those in need. We believe that lawyers have a professional obligation to provide pro bono services and ensure access to justice for all.
The program offers all students — from first-years to LL.M.s — the chance to use their developing legal skills on behalf of underrepresented communities and causes. Opportunities to volunteer range from providing assistance to victims of violence seeking protective orders to working on impact litigation for civil rights and racial justice. Through their participation in the Pro Bono Program, students engage in meaningful legal work and gain practical skills while providing legal services to underserved communities in Charlottesville, Virginia and beyond.
More: Why Do Pro Bono?
Pro Bono Facts, 2021-22
Hours Logged
16,340
by 388 students
The Challenge
99
Class of 2022 graduates completed the 75-hour challenge
Winter Break
6,500
hours logged by 194 students at 101 organizations
The Pro Bono Experience
Students and alumni discuss their experiences volunteering to help others.
Jennifer Kelso
"Last year I did pro bono work over winter break at the same organization where I had previously worked as a legal assistant. While there, I took on more substantive work than I had as a legal assistant, and it was great to be able to do that with attorneys I already knew well."
Wes Williams
"Experiencing firsthand the power that lawyers can wield on behalf of someone who the system has treated unfairly reminded me why I came to law school in the first place."
Corey Parker
"As a bonus, I ended up with a summer internship at Charlottesville-Albemarle Public Defender’s Office as a result of the relationships I built through winter pro bono."
Sarah Houston
"It was because of my exposure to refugee and asylum law earlier this year that I was able to hit the ground running at the International Refugee Assistance Project."
Shweta Kumar
"Unique pro bono projects can also be a valuable way to break into a niche area of law, such as public interest IP or health data privacy. Pro bono work can serve as a reminder of why we came to law school in the first place: to serve our communities and effect positive change."
Henry Li
"When I wrote legal memoranda for the lawyers, I also had the amazing opportunity to apply and develop what I had just learned the semester before."
Allison Burns
"I strongly believe that as law students and future lawyers, we have an obligation to give back to the community and use our education in service of others. The UVA Law Pro Bono Program is a great way to get involved in the community through interesting and engaging projects."
Natasha Halloran
"As a first-generation law student, I was unfamiliar with what to expect of law school. However, I knew that my rigorous law school journey must include humbling and impactful pro bono work."
Kara Hafermalz
"When I decided to go to law school, I knew I wanted to engage in meaningful legal work as soon as I could. The program made it possible for me to participate in multiple projects at a pace that fit with my 1L schedule"
Warren Griffiths
"I learned more from my year of pro bono with the Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center than from anything else during 1L. "
Doriane Steva Nguenang Tchenga
"I have been able to help in a meaningful way while also developing my legal research, writing and interpersonal skills."
Sara DeStefano
"I enrolled at the University of Virginia with the intent of both keeping my Spanish language skills sharp and using them to provide better access to legal services for Spanish speakers. The Pro Bono Program provided me with opportunities to do just that. "
Ashley Cordero
"Pro bono has acted as a constant reminder of why I came to law school and has informed me as to what I am striving to do as a lawyer."
Nachiketa Baru
"I believe that my involvement in the pro bono program at UVA has not only prepared me to become a more competent lawyer but a better-rounded and more balanced person."
Diane Philips
"During my 1L year, I was surprised that I was able to start volunteering with the Innocence Project at UVA within the first few weeks of school. Engaging in this hands-on work during law school has fueled my passion for defense work and prepared me to be a dedicated advocate for my future clients."
Charlotte Bilski
"During my 1L year, I volunteered with the Virginia Innocence Project. Our weekly meetings were the highlight of my week, as they served as a constant reminder of the type of work I can tackle as a law student and as an attorney."
Natalia Heguaburo
"My pro bono work has allowed me to put the skills I acquired in the classroom into practice. "
Kevin Jackson
"I can’t overstate how helpful it has been to get real-world experience under the supervision of practicing attorneys."
Public Service News
Contact
The Pro Bono Program
probono@law.virginia.edu
(434) 924-3883
