Bailey Bortolin - Class of 2015 graduate who earned the Highest Pro Bono Honors

 

 

 

 

"I joined the Pro Bono Honors program because I was eager to participate in all hands on learning experiences the legal community had to offer.  Learning the law was interesting, but being able to apply it and directly help people and affect their outcomes was fulfilling.

My pro bono hours stemmed from a variety of different types of law.  Pro Bono isn't specific to one area of law, and assisting and student practicing in different areas helped shape my direction for my post-grad practice of law.  I assisted on different divorce cases that showed how unique each human situation is.  I participated in Ask-a-Lawyer events where people in need were seeking guidance and direction, and I helped with youth education and empowerment projects.
 
I gained an understanding of the needs of our community, and the ways in which attorneys can effectuate change and life-changing assistance.  On a professional level, I was mentored by a variety of incredible and successful attorneys. Observing and participating in attorney-client relationships and the process of building the necessary trust and report provided valuable lessons and takeaways that would be difficult to pick up in a classroom.  
 
For me, being able to practice what I was learning was a valuable motivator to succeed in the classroom so I could go into the community confident that I was able to assist those in need."
 

About the Program

We encourage students to continue their engagement in pro bono service after they complete the required pro bono service in the Community Service Program.  During or right after their first year of law school, all students participate in the Community Service Program.  In that program, students are closely supervised by licensed attorneys while they either teach free legal education classes or develop materials that explain legal procedures or requirements.

After they have completed their Community Service Program requirement, students may enroll in the Pro Bono Honors Program.  To enroll, students should log in on Symplicity (the Career Development Office's online job board) and take the Pro Bono Honors Program Pledge.  Once enrolled, students can report 20 hours of pro bono service for their work in the Community Service Program and begin accruing additional pro bono hours by working on approved pro bono projects.

Students who complete 60 hours of approved pro bono work will be recognized at graduation as having earned “Pro Bono Honors".  Students who complete 100 or more hours will be recognized for earning “Highest Pro Bono Honors".

The pre-approved opportunities for the Pro Bono Honors Program include the following:

  • Community Service Program (Graduation Requirement)
  • Alternative Spring Break (qualifying activities)
  • Ask-A-Lawyer Programs
  • CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
  • Community Law Day
  • Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada's Educational Surrogate Program
  • Nevada Legal Services Clinics
  • Pahrump Forms Clinics
  • Partners in Pro Bono
  • Street Law
  • Tenants' Rights Clinics
  • UNLV Parking & Transportation Services Arbitration Program
  • Upward Bound Law Day
  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
  • Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Nevada Goldilocks Program

If students have a pro bono project to suggest, students may submit the Pro Bono Project Proposal form to have projects approved for the Pro Bono Honors Program by the Community Service Committee. 

Additional opportunities will be posted in the weekly Career Development Office's newsletters when they become available. 

View Boyd's Public Interest Law Association's website for pro bono opportunities and more here.