Why You Should Get Involved with Pro Bono Organizations in Law School

In law school, there are so many organizations you can join: organizations based on affinity groups, based on the kind of law you want to practice, etc. Pro bono organizations are just one of the many options that 1Ls are inundated with. As a 1L, you want to get involved but don't want to be so overwhelmed with organizations that it takes focus away from your schoolwork. It can be hard to decide which organizations to do. I highly recommend joining a pro bono group, as they are some of the best (in my opinion) organizations that you can join. If there is still time for you to join one, I recommend it. If not, join next semester or next year. It is never too late!

Here are some reasons why you should join a pro bono organization:

1.  You get to help people. For many people, this is the biggest draw to joining pro bono organizations, and this is the primary reason they exist. Many people who under-represented in our justice system, and pro bono orgs are a great way to provide these people with legal assistance. Many law schools have multiple pro bono organizations, so you can find one that you are interested in. I am involved with my law school's pro bono org that helps domestic violence survivors, as this is a cause close to my heart (my sorority's philanthropy was domestic violence awareness!). If there isn't one you are particularly interested in, I still recommend getting involved in a pro bono group because of the good you can do and the difference you can make in someone's life.
2. It is a good way to get hands on experience as a law student. As students (especially 1Ls), there are not many ways to get hands on legal experience, but pro bono orgs are one of them! Depending on the organization, you can get practice writing briefs, interacting with clients, performing legal research, and more. Not only can you help people through pro bono organizations, you can also gain legal experience as a student.
3. For both of the reasons above, having pro bono experience looks great on a resume. All types of employers like to see pro bono experience. Public interest groups love to see pro bono work, as do large and small firms. Having pro bono experience shows that you care about other people, and it also is a way for you to practice and refine legal skills before you ever even intern. It also can separate your application from others with similar grades. During interviews for summer internships, I was frequently asked about my pro bono work and the experiences I had because of it.

These are obviously not the only reasons why should you get involved with a pro bono organization in law school, but they are the most common. No matter why you get involved with a pro bono organization, it can be a great experience for you but also the people you serve through it. What are some of the pro bono organizations at your school? Leave them in the comments!