National Pro Bono Week is here!
October 21, 2024
National Pro Bono Week is underway at UNC School of Law, running from Oct. 21-26 and offering students a variety of events and opportunities to engage in pro bono work.
Meghan Moran, director of pro bono initiatives, explains that the week aims to engage students with pro bono work in multiple ways.
“We always do a lot of different events to engage students with pro bono work,” Moran says. “Hopefully providing students with plenty of opportunities to get involved.”
Moran adds that the week serves multiple purposes beyond the work itself. “It’s about connecting with alumni, learning different skills through training, and connecting with other engaged students,” she says. “We’re building a community of people with similar interests.”
While National Pro Bono Week is a nationwide event, Moran notes its beneficial timing for Carolina Law’s programs. The week helps prepare students for winter break pro bono opportunities.
“We usually have over 50 projects for students over winter break, plus we have our winter break trip,” she says. “This week gives students a taste of pro bono work, so hopefully they’ll be really engaged during the break, too.”
This week’s events at Carolina Law include:
Monday, Oct. 21:
- National Pro Bono Week Kickoff, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Rotunda
- Free Legal Answers “Empower Hour” Project, noon to 1 p.m., Room 5054
Tuesday, Oct. 22:
- Winter Break Pro Bono Work Interest Meeting, noon to 1 p.m., Room 4085
Wednesday, Oct. 23:
- Working with a Supervising Attorney Panel, noon to 1 p.m., Room 4004
Thursday, Oct. 24:
- Trauma-Informed Lawyering Skills Training, noon to 1 p.m., Room 4085
- Student and Alumni Pro Bono Mixer, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., TRU Deli
Friday, Oct. 25:
- Better Together Expunction Clinic, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wilson Center for Science and Justice, Durham
Saturday, Oct. 26:
- Name Change Clinic, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Chapel Hill Public Library
Many events require pre-registration, and some offer training sessions to prepare students for pro bono work.
Students interested in participating should check their email for registration links or contact the pro bono initiatives office for more information.