As a “private university in the public service,” NYU is committed to serving the public through a variety of programs. In furtherance of this mission, in the fall of 2010 the Law School launched the Pro Bono Service Award program to encourage all NYU law students to do 50 or more hours of law-related service during law school. A voluntary program, students keep track of their own hours and submitting them to the Public Interset Law Center. Beginning with the class of 2013, students who complete 50 or more hours will receive the Pro Bono Service Award Certificate from the Dean.
The goal of the Pro Bono Service Award is to encourage all of NYU Law students to embrace public service as a professional responsibility and an opportunity for great satisfaction and learning throughout their careers. Cognizant of the huge unmet need for legal services in our society, the program has been designed to encourage and recognize both: 1) students who intend to devote their careers to public service; and 2) students who intend to do pro bono work in the private sector.
Students can become involved in pro bono activities by working with our wide array of pro bono student organizations, participating in NYU's Summer Funding program, doing pro bono work at a law firm, or by interning in non-profit or government organizations. For a list of student organizations working on legal pro bono projects click here.
For detailed information about the program, please read our FAQs.
Questions? Contact Jorge Luis Paniagua Valle at jl.paniaguavalle@nyu.edu.
