In October 1992, the faculty of Loyola Law School instituted a pro bono graduation requirement. The purpose of the requirement is to expose students to their ethical obligation to perform public service work, consistent with a lawyer's professional responsibility to provide legal assistance to those persons unable to afford traditional legal representation. Students may satisfy the graduation requirement by:
• Completing at least two units in approved public interest externship programs,
or
• Providing forty unpaid hours of legal services in an approved public interest agency or with a private attorney working through such an agency.
This handbook is intended to familiarize students with the requirements of the Pro Bono Program. More detailed information may be found in the Loyola Student Handbook.
2.0 Qualified Public Interest Organizations (QPIO's)
The Law School has developed approved opportunities for placement and will assist students in obtaining placement with a qualified public interest organization or QPIO. A QPIO is defined as a non-profit organization providing legal services to persons who have been traditionally underrepresented, including, but not limited to those who are indigent, elderly, juvenile or disabled. A list of these placements is also available in the Public Interest Law Department.
Approved agencies are those which deliver legal services to low income or underserved client groups, such as legal services programs, tax assistance preparation programs or non-profit legal agencies. An agency, law firm or organization providing a mixture of legal services, some of which would qualify under the definition of a QPIO, may qualify on an ad hoc basis so long as the student demonstrates that he or she is working exclusively on a qualified project or projects. A qualified public interest organization does not include government agencies or judicial externships.
Students are expected to perform professional law-related work under the supervision of an attorney. Examples of eligible activities include client intake and interviewing, legal and factual research, fact finding and witness interviewing, writing law-related documents, file preparation, assistance with preparation of documents, legislative and policy analysis, negotiating on behalf of a client, and client legal education.
3.1. Students may satisfy the Pro Bono requirement at qualified placements that are not currently approved only after receiving approval from the Public Interest Law Department Director. Students must demonstrate that the proposed placement satisfies the definition of a QPIO, and must obtain the advance approval of the Public Interest Law Department Director. All approved special placements must provide for student supervision by a licensed attorney through a QPIO.
3.2. Students may not commence satisfying the pro bono requirement until the first year of day or evening studies is completed (i.e., no earlier than the Summer Session following the first year).
3.3. All students must, without exception, complete the pro bono requirement prior to the last semester before graduation. Students cannot graduate until the pro bono requirement is completed.
3.4. A student who has completed the first year of studies may elect the semester or Summer Session in which he or she wishes to begin performance of the requirement.
The election is accomplished by filing a Statement of Intent form with the Public Interest Law Department. Completion of the requirement will be reflected on the official transcript of each student.
3.5. Students must begin performance of the requirement in the semester or Summer Session in which they file a Statement of Intent, subject to the availability of qualified placements.
Day Division students who select the forty-hour option must complete the forty hours within two consecutive semesters (i.e., Fall and Spring), or within a consecutive semester and Summer Session. The second semester must be completed prior to the last semester before graduation.
Evening Division students who select the forty-hour option may complete the requirement over several (consecutive or non-consecutive) semesters or Summer Sessions, provided they complete the forty hours prior to the last semester before graduation.
3.6. Upon submission to the Public Interest Law Department of the fully completed and documented Student Log/Supervisory Form showing completion of the forty-hour option, or upon successful completion of an approved public interest externship, the Public Interest Law Department will notify the Office of the Registrar and completion of the pro bono requirement will be reflected on the official transcript of each student.
4.0 Program Requirements and Policies
4.1. The pro bono graduation requirement must, without exception, be completed prior to the last semester before graduation as set forth in Section 3.3 above.
4.2. Completion of the pro bono graduation requirement will not be waived for any student.
4.3. In the Spring semester of each academic year, first year students will be provided with a copy of the Pro Bono Program Student Handbook, which explains the details of the graduation requirement, the options available to satisfy the requirement, how to select and confirm a placement, and deadlines for completion of the requirement.
4.4. Students must read and review all pro bono graduation requirements and policies prior to selecting and confirming a placement option. Students must sign a written confirmation of familiarity with the requirements and policies at the time of filing the Statement of Intent to commence satisfaction of the requirement.
4.5. To receive credit for completion of the pro bono requirement, students must provide documentation of legal services on forms provided in the Pro Bono Program Student Handbook. All documented hours must be verified by the placement supervising attorney; unverified hours do not count towards completion of the requirement.
4.6. Students electing to satisfy the requirement by enrolling in at least two units of an approved public interest externship must complete all externship requirements pursuant to the "Loyola Law School Externship Program Policies and Procedures."
4.7. All legal services provided under the pro bono requirement must be performed in a professional manner consistent with the requirements of the placement and the professional ethical obligations of a law student seeking application for entry into the legal profession. Failure to conform to professional standards will result in failure to complete the pro bono graduation requirement.
4.8. Supervision standards for all pro bono placements are the same as those contained in the manual for field supervisors prepared by the Externship Department ("Joint Standards for Supervision of Externship Students"). All supervising attorneys will be provided with a copy of the supervision standards manual when placements are confirmed.
4.9. All students providing legal services pursuant to the pro bono requirement are insured pursuant to a Lawyers Professional Liability Insurance policy. The policy is carried by the Externship Department for externship and pro bono students.