The Salt Lake County Bar has been a financial supporter of the Pro Bono Initiative at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law since its inception in 2001.  The Pro Bono Initiative is a voluntary program designed to emphasize the fundamental role of public service in the legal profession and to increase access to legal services for all members of our community.  All law students at the University of Utah are strongly encouraged to perform at least fifty hours of pro bono legal work under the supervision of a licensed attorney.  It was our hope, and it has been our experience, that student assistance makes it possible for more attorneys to take on pro bono matters, which makes our legal system more accessible to everyone, especially those most in need. 

In autumn, 2005, students were volunteering on 77 pro bono placements through the Initiative, with projects being supervised by 51 attorneys and project coordinators.  The case range is wide, with matters ranging from civil rights to education law, employee benefits, housing, immigration, taxation, and international environmental issues.  Nearly half of last spring’s graduating class of 2005 participated in at least one pro bono placement, and as a class they performed approximately 1900 hours of pro bono service.  During the last academic year students volunteered over 1670 hours.  Of course, these hours do not include the many volunteered by the students’ attorney supervisors and mentors. The benefits of participating in a pro bono placement impact all involved, whether a client, student, or supervising attorney.   

The Salt Lake County Bar has been pleased to pass on a portion of our members’ dues to fund this important program, which pairs law student assistants with attorneys representing pro bono clients. But we believe the Pro Bono Initiative provides us with more than just the opportunity to support pro bono efforts financially.  The Pro Bono Initiative offers all of us a variety of ways to make pro bono service more manageable and effective.  The need in our community is great, and the time commitment may be less than you’d think.  We urge you to look into ways you might participate and consult with the Pro Bono Initiative staff to utilize the resources offered by law student volunteers.   Any attorney representing a client on a pro bono basis (with no expectation of payment or at a substantially reduced fee) may request student assistance through the Pro Bono Initiative.  Another suggestion for participation is:

Family Law Clinic  --  Now in its second year, this drop-in clinic is held at the Matheson Courthouse the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.  The clinic is a collaborative effort of the Pro Bono Initiative, Utah Legal Services, The Legal Aid Society, The Women’s Resource Center and the Utah State Bar.  Volunteer attorneys and students provide information, intake, referrals, and assist with online pro se documents.  No ongoing representation arises from clinic participation.  Training is provided for attorneys (with 2 hours of free CLE credit!) and students wishing to participate.  The next training will be held the afternoon of January 27th, 2006. 

For information regarding the Family Law Clinic, other clinic offerings or cultivating a project that suits your needs, please call Kristin Erickson at 585-7703 or email us at Probono@law.utah.edu.