1L’s can start volunteering for pro bono projects after finals! But what does that mean to you as a student? Here are at least 4 good reasons to volunteer.
1.) Gain experience. Volunteering through the PBI will introduce you to the actual practice of law and will give you hands-on experience and knowledge that will help you to become a better lawyer. As you search for employment during law school, actual legal experience will set you apart from other applicants.
2.) Establish a network of contacts. Volunteering introduces you to practitioners in your areas of interest who can provide references, advice, and career guidance.
3.) Personal fulfillment. Thousands of low-income Utahns face legal problems without access to representation. Your volunteer efforts may prevent a client from being wrongfully evicted or help a disabled client secure benefits. Many attorneys cite pro bono cases as their most fulfilling work.
4.) Explore. Volunteering provides an opportunity to explore new, unfamiliar areas of the law. Students may discover a passion for a field they had not previously considered.
“Participating in the Pro Bono Initiative at the S.J. Quinney College of Law [was] the most rewarding and beneficial part of my law school experience.”
-SJQ 2010 Graduate Skyler Anderson
The Pro Bono Initiative will be having a mandatory 1L orientation for those who plan on participating in pro bono projects and/or a Pro Bono Initiative Brief Advice Legal Clinic while in law school on Friday, January 13, 2012 from 12:15-1:30pm in the Moot Court Room. Click HERE to RSVP!