PRO BONO PROGRAM

Suffolk University Law School is committed to the principle that members of the legal community and those aspiring to enter the legal profession have an obligation to assist in providing legal services to persons of limited means, and to individuals, groups or causes that are underrepresented in the legal system.  Through our voluntary Pro Bono Program, Suffolk Law seeks to foster in each student a moral and professional obligation to ensure access to justice for all members of the community.  Although law students are not yet members of the legal profession and are therefore not obligated to render pro bono services, we believe that the commitment to serve others should start here.  In furtherance of this principle, Suffolk Law challenges all incoming law students to complete at least 50 hours of law-related volunteer work before they graduate.  Suffolk Law also encourages faculty, administrators, and staff who are attorneys to participate in annual pro bono activities. Ilene Seidman, Associate Dean, Clinical Professor of Law, and Associate Director of Clinical Programs, serves as the Pro Bono Advisor to the Pro Bono Program.

Pro bono service is the responsibility of all members of the legal profession.  The law school’s Pro Bono Program – administered by the Rappaport Center – allows law students to begin that service now and encourages students to develop a lifelong commitment to pro bono work.  By participating in the Pro Bono Program, students have the opportunity to give back to the community by helping underserved clients or groups and participating in work to improve the law, while also gaining practical experience and building a network of professional contacts.

We encourage students to learn more about the Pro Bono Program by stopping by the Rappaport Center or emailing probono@suffolk.edu.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF CURRENT PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS!

Suffolk Law students are making a vitally important difference in the community by providing pro bono services.  Click on each link below to read success stories of Pro Bono Program students.

Patrick Malloy, JD ’11: Transforming Constituent Needs Into Law

Shain Neumeier, JD ’12: Informing Mental Health and Disability Law Clients about Important Issues

Aliya Khalidi, JD ‘11: Constitutional Law as Applied to Police Misconduct