RALEIGH – Campbell Law Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced that the law school’s faculty recently voted to adopt aspirational pro bono and community service goals for its student body. Under the new policy, all Campbell Law students in good academic standing should aspire to complete a total of 50 hours of pro bono publico legal and law-related services and community service. Students should aim to meet the objective between the completion of 14 credit hours and the end of their final semester of law school.
The policy encourages students to provide at least 35 hours, without compensation or academic credit, of pro bono legal services or pro bono law-related public service, and to participate in community service, resulting in a combination of at least 50 hours. Students can choose from the 12 currently established Campbell projects or pursue their own pro bono publico legal and law-related service opportunities according to their passion and interest.
“Campbell Law has historically preached that the practice of law is a calling to serve others, and as time passes by we continue to stick to that mantra,” said Leonard. “This new policy simply sets a target for our students to reach throughout their tenure in law school, with the goal in mind of making this standard operating procedure for their careers moving forward as they become local leaders in law and public service following graduation.”
Pro bono legal service is defined as aiding persons of limited means, or charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental, and educational organizations in matters which are designed primarily to address the needs of persons of limited means.
Pro bono law-related public service includes participation in activities or services aimed at improving the law, the legal system, or the legal profession, where the payment of standard legal fees would significantly deplete the individual’s, group’s, or organization’s economic resources or would be otherwise inappropriate.
Community service is defined as non-legal volunteer work in the community and other uncompensated non-law-related public service.