Finding Pro Bono & Community Service Opportunities
There are many ways to find a pro bono or community service expereince, below are a few suggestions to get you started.
Attend the Pro Bono Panels
Every fall the Public Interest Law Coordinator puts on a series of Pro Bono Panels. These panels feature attorneys from local public interest and environmental organizations. The panelists speak about their organizations and give information on how students can get involved. Watch the Career Services Calendar for these panels.
Look at the Pro Bono Window of Opportunities
The Pro Bono Window of Opportunities is located on the window across from the Career Services Office in the Gantenbein Building. Pro Bono and Community Service Job Postings and opportunities are posted here, along with information on trainings, programming, reporting, and other information relevant to the Pro Bono and Community Service Programs.
Review Job Postings
Organizations looking for both long and short-term help often post their opportunities with the law school. These job postings will be posted on the Pro Bono Window of Opportunities, broadcast on the Pro Bono Listserv (register to be added), and posted in the Career Services Office's online job postings. Students can review the postings to look for opportunities that interest them. Please make sure to note application requirements and deadlines. Check back often as postings can be updated frequently.
Look in the Green Book
The Pacific Northwest Directory of Public Service and Environmental Organizations (the Green Book) is a directory of public service, environmental, and government organizations in Oregon and Washington. The Career Services Office updates the directory yearly. Look through the Green Book and make a list of organizations that seem interesting. Pick up a copy of the Green Book in the Career Services Office.
Register for PSLawNet
PSLawNet is a public interest law site run by the National Association for Legal Placement (NALP). Lewis & Clark Law School subscribes to PSLawNet.org, and as a member school, our students have unlimited access to the site. PSLawNet.org is a national database of public service employers that allows students connect to opportunities (both pro bono and paid) with public interest organizations, government agencies, judges, and private firms with public interest or significant pro bono practices.
Visit Volunteer Opportunity Web Sites
Many organizations have their own web sites with information about volunteering; if you know a place you would like to volunteer, visit their web site. There are also a number of sites dedicated to connecting volunteers with service opportunities. A few sites with information about opportunities in and around Portland are Idealist, Hands On Portland, and CNRG.
Meet with the Public Interest Law Coordinator
The Public Interest Law Coordinator is available for individual student counseling on locating and applying for pro bono opportunities. You can sign up for an appointment in person with the Career Services Office’s Receptionist or by emailing the Coordinator at wcpenn@lclark.edu.
