Pro Bono Challenge

The Virginia Law Pro Bono Challenge recognizes JD students who complete 75 hours or more of pro bono during their three years at the Law School (50 hours for 2L transfers and 25 hours for LL.M. students). 

Students who meet the Challenge are honored at graduation, listed in the commencement brochure, and receive a Dean-signed certificate of recognition. In 2026, 90 graduates completed the Challenge (Class of 2026). The graduate who best demonstrates an “extraordinary commitment to pro bono service” is honored with the annual Pro Bono Award. In addition, 1Ls who log at least 25 hours in their first year and 2Ls who log at least 50 hours by the end of their second year are commended for their service. (Class of 2027 - 2L Update/Class of 2028 Update).

The Pro Bono Program helps student volunteers find pro bono projects with legal services, federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and many other nonprofit organizations. Pro bono volunteers assist with a wide range of legal tasks such as conducting client interviews, drafting documents, preparing community education materials, and formulating legislative policy. 

New pro bono projects are continuously posted on GoodWorks and an update is emailed to students on a weekly basis. Winter and spring break projects provide students with the opportunity to volunteer full-time over the course of one to two weeks. These opportunities are also posted on GoodWorks. 

To qualify for the Pro Bono Challenge, the work must be:

• law-related/non-clerical and necessitate the use of legal skills;
• supervised by a licensed attorney or law school faculty member;
• performed on behalf of an indigent client, a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) or (4)), legal services organization, governmental agency, or a private law firm working on a pro bono basis;
• uncompensated (financially or with academic credit);
• completed while the student is enrolled at the Law School

Pro bono hours must be logged in GoodWorks and approved by the project supervisor. Projects posted on GoodWorks qualify as pro bono for the purposes of the Pro Bono Challenge, but not all posted opportunities qualify as pro bono for the New York State Bar's 50-hour requirement. Qualifying pro bono for the New York State Bar Pro Bono Requirement is determined by the New York Bar and not by the staff of the Virginia Law Pro Bono Program. If you have questions about whether a specific project qualifies as pro bono, send an email to @email or call their toll-free number at 1-855-227-5482.