Please note that neither OPICS, the Externship Program Office, nor the Office of the Registrar may sign Affidavits of Compliance – only a supervising attorney or faculty member may certify pro bono hours. OPICS strongly recommends that Affidavits be completed immediately after the qualifying pro bono work is done, as tracking down supervisors or required information months or years after the pro bono work has been completed may be difficult. Each Affidavit must be certified and signed by the appropriate supervising attorney or faculty member. Documentation:Īs proof of completion, applicants will need to file an Affidavit of Compliance for each pro bono activity used to satisfy the 50-hour requirement. You may also email questions to the New York Advisory Committee. You should refer to the text of the rule or the Advisory Committee’s Frequently Asked Questions to determine whether a particular activity qualifies. Law-related work in connection with a faculty or instructor’s pro bono work.
Law school sponsored projects or programs that serve the poor or disadvantaged (provided the work is law-related and supervised in accordance with the pro bono requirement).Attorney, District Attorney, State Attorney General, or other federal, state or local government agency or legislative body Externships or internships (even if funded or performed for academic credit) for a nonprofit provider of legal services, legal aid office, judge or court system, Public Defender, U.S.Law-school sponsored clinics that provide legal assistance to those who cannot afford representation.Examples of qualifying activities include: Under the New York Rule, pro bono is broadly defined, though the work must be law-related in nature and supervised by a licensed attorney or faculty member.