Membership Award Levels

The Pro Bono Society was formed in September 2011 to recognize the outstanding efforts of law students engaged in pro bono during their tenure at UW Law School. Students will be recognized upon meeting the following benchmarks:

• Pro Bono Society: recognizes 50 or more pro bono hours attained by J.D./S.J.D. students, and 20 or more pro bono hours attained by LL.M. students
  • may be awarded at the end of 2L or 3L year
  • 3L and LL.M. students receive purple honors cords
• Pro Bono Society – Outstanding Service: recognizes 100 or more pro bono hours
  
  • 3L students receive purple and gold honors cords
• Pro Bono Society – Exceptional Service: recognizes 200 or more pro bono hours
  • 3L students receive purple, white, and gold honors cords

Students who meet any of these benchmarks will be inducted into the Pro Bono Society and graduate with pro bono distinction. Note that students only receive graduation honors cords for the highest level achieved. 

Requirements

Each student seeking membership into the Pro Bono Society must adhere to the following requirements:

• Volunteer activity must be:
  • Law-related: You must perform pro bono work that is related to the law, and either (a) for community members of limited financial means, or (2) that otherwise advances the public interest or serves the public.
  • Uncompensated: You must work in a volunteer capacity and may not receive any compensation, including stipends.
  • No Academic Credit: Your work cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of a clinic or a directed study project, or to otherwise obtain academic credit.
  • Supervision/Training: You must be trained and supervised by an attorney or other qualified supervisor.
• Canvas Training Course
  • Students are required to complete the Pro Bono Program's Canvas training course BEFORE any pro bono work will be credited towards Pro Bono Society hours.
• Logging Time
  • Only hours properly logged in 12twenty will count towards Pro Bono Society membership.
  • If your volunteer activity is not listed on the Current Opportunities webpage, you must fill out this form: External Pro Bono Project Proposal, and wait for the pro bono coordinator's response that you may move forward with counting your hours for that experience.
  • Click here to view a PDF with detailed instructions on how to log hours in 12twenty.