Opportunities

The Public Interest Center strives to ensure each student finds a public service or pro bono project that meets their professional and personal goals. The center works with student organizations, legal service providers, government agencies, law firms, and other community partners to develop a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.

How to Find Opportunities

Check out the Public Interest Center's list of pro bono and public service opportunities.
Read the Public Interest Center newsletter, which highlights pro bono and public service opportunities.
Visit the Chicago Bar Foundation's pro bono opportunity portal.
Join a student organization that provides volunteer opportunities for its members, such as the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and the Street Law Association.
Locate potential host organizations by setting up your free student account on PSJD.
Visit ProNet's National Pro Bono Guide for volunteer opportunities in your home state.

Please note: Not all posted opportunities will qualify as pro bono for the New York State Bar’s 50-hour requirement.

Qualifying Organizations

Organizations that qualify for Northwestern's Pro Bono & Public Service Program must be:

a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status,
a governmental agency, or
a licensed attorney or law firm providing pro bono or reduced-fee legal services.

Northwestern Pritzker Law does not provide malpractice insurance for law students participating in the program; volunteer students performing legal work must be covered under the sponsoring organization's malpractice insurance.

For organizations new to the Northwestern Pro Bono & Public Service Program, proof of 501(c)(3) status or government agency must be provided to the Public Interest Center before law students can begin work for the organization. If the work is legal in nature, the name and contact information of the supervising attorney must also be provided. All documents and information should be sent to public-interest-center@law.northwestern.edu.