Public Interest & the Pro Bono Program

The Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law takes very seriously our role in forging the values of our students and in developing their sense of responsibility for public service. It is our goal that throughout our students' professional careers they will recognize an ethical obligation to perform public interest work and we realize the importance of their law school experience in instilling that obligation.

We are the leading accredited law school in a metropolitan area of well over 3 million people. There are an enormous number of public interest issues in a city of this size and we offer our students the opportunity to get involved in those issues. Our students embrace this opportunity and together we are constantly striving to expand the breadth and depth of our public interest and pro bono activities.

  

The Pro Bono Program

In addition to experiencing the satisfaction of service, pro bono challenges students to come to terms with both the tremendous reach and the frustrating limits of the law. The practical enterprise provides students a more informed perspective when they are confronted with substantive legal issues in their coursework.

Many of our students come to the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law because they want to help people. Pro bono experiences help to reaffirm their motivation and to connect them with their idealism in a way that will have positive ramifications throughout both their professional careers and their personal lives.

We invite all of our students to get involved in our pro bono programs early in their law school careers, and to maintain that level of commitment throughout their three years.

Note to the public: We regret that the Pro Bono Program at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law is not able to directly assist individuals seeking legal assistance. Because our work is done in cooperation with legal service agencies around the Valley, we respectfully request that members of the public not contact members of the board seeking legal assistance. 

Click here for a list of resources available. Thank you for your cooperation.

  

Pro Bono Events

  
Statistics
  • In 2010, students performed over 106,000 hours of free legal and law-related services.   
  • Externships include over 200 community partnerships.
  • Clinics assist more than 3300 members of the public.
  • Pro Bono Board raises funds annually for Summer Public Interest Fellowships at Justice for All Night.
  • Over 90% of our graduating students voluntarily participate in clinics, externships, and/or pro bono activities.
  • 20 active student-led pro bono groups.