Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the Pro Bono Program and their answers.
Common Questions
Does my training time towards the pro bono activity count towards my pro bono hours?
- Yes. You can count training time.
My volunteer site is 45 minutes away. Does travel time to and from the pro bono activity count towards pro bono hours?
- No. Travel time does not count towards pro bono hours.
Does volunteering with an attorney at a law firm count?
- Volunteer work for a private attorney does not count, even if unpaid. However, if the attorney has taken a case pro bono and the client is not paying the attorney, your hours could count towards pro bono assuming the type of work meets the requirements laid out above. You must submit an External Pro Bono Project Proposal.
I put in additional hours for my clinic/externship, far above the requirements for credit. Can those extra hours count towards pro bono?
- Hours that exceed credit requirements for a clinic or externship cannot count toward pro bono when pursued in the same semester for which you are receiving credit.
- You may not count clinic/externship hours during the same semester in which you are receiving credit for the clinic/externship.
- Your participation beyond the credit-bearing semester must not take a spot in the clinic that would otherwise be going to another student who could take the clinic as a course.
- Please submit an External Pro Bono Project Proposal to pursue pro bono hours related to a UW Law Clinic or Externship.
I’m in a leadership role in a Law School organization, which includes many hours of work. Can this count towards pro bono?
- Administrative work on behalf of Law School student organizations is not eligible for pro bono.
I’m translating documents for an immigration non-profit. The documents are not always legal in nature, but are related to a client’s immigration case. Does this work count towards pro bono?
- For any project that is not listed on the Law School’s Current Opportunities webpage, please complete the External Pro Bono Project Proposal. You can explain how your work meets the “law-related” requirement outlined above.
I’m volunteering with a project that has an attorney involved, but most of the supervision is performed by trained law students. Does this count?
- If your project is approved by the Law School and listed on the Law School’s Current Opportunities webpage, the determination has already been made that you will receive adequate supervision and training.
- If your project is not sponsored and approved by UW Law’s pro bono program, you must complete the External Pro Bono Project Proposal.
I’m volunteering as a legal observer at a courthouse/protest/election. I was trained by an attorney, but I work independently when observing. Does this count?
- If your project is approved by the Law School and listed on the Law School’s Current Opportunities webpage, the determination has already been made that you will receive adequate supervision and training.
- If your project is not sponsored and approved by UW Law’s pro bono program, you must complete the External Pro Bono Project Proposal.
I’m working for a non-profit/judge/government agency this summer, and I’m not receiving any sort of funding or stipend. Can my entire summer internship experience count towards pro bono hours?
- As long as the work meets the eligibility requirements laid out above, you may log up to 50 hours of pro bono work during a summer internship.
- You must complete the External Pro Bono Project Proposal.
