AALS Survey: Law Class of 2019 Contributed More Than $111 Million Worth of Pro Bono Legal Services

For the fourth consecutive year, AALS measured how much law schools contribute to the delivery of much-needed legal services through clinics, other experiential courses, and pro bono activities of graduating law students.

In November, 105 law schools reported that 19,885 law students in the class of 2019 contributed more than 4.38 million hours in legal services as part of their legal education, an average of about 221 hours per student. Independent Sector, a nonprofit organization coalition, estimates the value of volunteer time to be $25.43 an hour. Using this number, the total value of the students’ time at these schools is estimated to be in excess of $111.5 million. The schools represent more than half of the students in American Bar Association accredited law schools in the class of 2019.

Many schools reported that some hours go uncounted or are difficult to track so actual contributions were likely higher. The project also did not include hours contributed by students in master’s degree programs.

“Access to justice is a cornerstone of legal education and the legal profession,” said Darby Dickerson, 2020 AALS President and Dean at UIC John Marshall Law School. “The pro bono opportunities represented in this project provide valuable and unique experiences for students as they prepare for their careers while helping to meet the legal needs in often-underserved communities across the country. The AALS applauds these graduates for their dedication to serving those in need.”

Law students contributed hours to hundreds of efforts serving thousands of clients, including the following projects and clinics:

• Albany Law School – Elder Rights Project
• Brigham Young University Clark Law School – Community Legal Clinic
• The Catholic University Columbus School of Law – Tax Clinic
• University of California, Irvine School of Law – Domestic Violence Clinic
• University of Chicago, The Law School – Pro Bono Board
• University of Cincinnati College of Law – Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic
• Fordham University – Legislative and Policy Advocacy Clinic
• Georgetown University – Health Justice Alliance Law Clinic
• University of Georgia School of Law – Family Justice Clinic
• Harvard University Law School – Spring Break Pro Bono Projects
• UIC John Marshall Law School – Pro Bono Litigation Clinic
• The University of Kansas School of Law – Legal Aid Clinic
• Marquette University Law School – Estate Planning Clinic
• University of Miami School of Law – Legal Writing Class at Correctional Institution
• University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law – Veterans Advocacy Clinic
• Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law – Bluhm Legal Clinic
• University of Oregon School of Law – Service Project for Asylum Seekers
• St. Mary’s University School of Law – Center for Legal and Social Justice
• The University of Tulsa College of Law – Project Commutation
• Vanderbilt University Law School – Property Rights & Lending Reform Project
• Villanova University Widger School of Law – Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic

A full report on the survey is available on the AALS website.