Pro Bono: For the Public Good

The California Bar and the American Bar Associations encourage lawyers to devote at least 50 hours annually to the provision of pro bono legal services to indigent individuals or to non-profits whose primary purpose is the provision of legal services to or on behalf of the poor or disadvantaged or to non-profits whose mission is to improve the law and legal system or to increase access to justice for all. At Hastings, we believe this commitment to the delivery of legal services is an integral and intensely satisfying part of your legal education and enhances the development of your professional identity.

In California, the unmet legal need of indigent individuals is overwhelming. For every 8,361 indigent Californians, there is one legal services attorney. To put this in a visual, for the attendees at AT&T Park at full capacity, there would be just five attorneys. You can be a part of reducing this gap in the delivery of legal services, now by signing the Pro Bono Pledge.

Top Ten Reasons to do Pro Bono while at Hastings (and beyond)

(Read about the reasons current students have prioritized Pro Bono)

1. Receive graduation recognition - induction into the Pro Bono Society
2. Bask in the appreciation of those you assist
3. Get to know your classmates more fully
4. Distinguish yourself beyond traditional academics
5. Develop professional skills beyond the classroom
6. Witness the intersection of theory and practice
7. Develop leadership skills
8. Explore different areas of practice and potential career options while developing contacts and networking
9. Provide vital legal services and facilitate wider access to justice by giving back to the community
10. Remind yourself why you came to law school

Members of the Public Seeking Pro Bono Legal Assistance

UC Hastings does not have a legal services program available to the public; we do not provide individuals with advice or representation. If you are seeking legal assistance, please contact the Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP)of the San Francisco Bar Association at (415) 989-1616.