The Eric Neisser Public Interest Program is home to a number of student-run pro bono and community service projects. Students volunteering through these programs, or through an outside pro bono placement, provide assistance, advocacy and education in a wide variety of areas, including domestic violence, immigration, the environment, criminal justice, housing, human rights, work with youth, and veterans’ issues. The work of Rutgers law students, through the assistance of the Neisser Program, makes for meaningful contributions to the Newark community and beyond.
Current student pro bono projects include:
- Citizenship Rutgers
- Rutgers–Newark Bankruptcy Project
- Street Law
- STOP VAW (Students Against Violence Against Women)
- Veterans’ Assistance Project
The Student Pro Bono Board (SPBB) assists in identifying and promoting pro bono work throughout the law school community, and strives to provide regular recognition of the efforts of students, faculty and staff.
Pro Bono Graduation Credit
Students who participate in a minimum of 35 hours of pro bono work during their Law School careers receive special recognition at graduation, as well as a transcript notation. Pro bono credit is awarded for work that is truly volunteer (neither compensated nor undertaken for academic credit), and law-based. Many students volunteer with one of the school-based pro bono initiatives, while others work for outside public interest law organizations or government agencies.
Current students may log their pro bono hours in Symplicity. For directions about how to submit your hours, as well as more information about what qualifies as pro bono, click here.
For questions about any of the various pro bono opportunities, or for more information about identifying additional placements, please email publicinterest@kinoy.rutgers.edu.