Directory
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
University of Pittsburgh
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Megan Lovett
Director, Public Interest & Pro Bono Initiatives
[email protected]
(412) 383-3523
Category Type
Formal voluntary Pro Bono Program characterized by Referral System with a Coordinator
Description of Programs
Students are encouraged to engage in legal pro bono and public service through the promotion of a 3-tier voluntary recognition program. The school identifies and fosters contact with organizations and promotes/creates pro bono opportunities for students. On occasion, the school will partner with an organization to manage a pro bono project, host a training, etc. Students use an internal hours tracking system to log their volunteer time and are recognized with an honors cord at graduation and a certificate denoting the level of their achievement.
Location of Programs
Career Services
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The Director of Public Interest & Pro Bono Initiatives oversees the majority of pro bono projects for students. The Director also engages in Public Interest Career Counseling.
Funding
The pro bono program is funded by the law school's operating budget.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
None.
Awards/Recognition
There are three levels of recognition, each with minimum hourly requirements:
- Pro Bono Excellence Recognition: 50 hours of qualifying legal pro bono volunteering during law school
- Public Service Recognition: 50 hours of qualifying volunteering during law school
- Public Service Leadership Recognition: 100 hours of qualifying volunteering during law school.
- In addition, one graduating student per year is selected by the faculty as "Distinguished Public Interest Scholar" and this student has typically engaged in significant amounts of Pro Bono.
Alternative Winter or Spring Break Programs
Pitt Law partners with a local civil legal aid for a one week Rural Legal Clinic in January before Spring Semester.
Law School Public Interest Programs
Contact Information
Megan Lovett
Director, Public Interest & Pro Bono Initiatives
[email protected]
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
None.
Public Interest Centers
None listed
PI Career Support Center
Pitt Law has a dedicated staff person who specializes in non-profit and government careers. This person fosters connections within the public interest profession, hosts multiple programs for students to learn about networking, post-grad fellowships, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and other unique facets of public interest law.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
We have dedicated funds which provide LRAP to recent grads who engage in specific forms of legal services.
https://www.law.pitt.edu/admissions/tuition-and-financial-aid/loans/loan-repayment-assistance-programs
Fellowships
None.
8/2/2023