DePaul’s Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (PBCSI) helps you put your values into action through structured volunteer opportunities, connecting you to meaningful service experiences and fostering a lifelong commitment to public service.
Volunteer Opportunities
PBCSI facilitates and encourages student volunteerism and works closely with you to help you find a volunteer site that fits your schedule and interests. Opportunities range from legal to non-legal service placements, and you may volunteer with one of PBCSI’s partner organizations or other nonprofits and government agencies serving marginalized populations. DePaul Law encourages every student to complete at least 50 hours of service while a student, and if you complete and report at least 50 hours of service during your time at DePaul Law, you are eligible for a service award and honor cords at graduation.
Held during orientation, this event gives incoming students an early opportunity to contribute to the community and bond with classmates, faculty and staff through service projects at schools, shelters and parks throughout Chicago.
PBCSI organizes at least six one-day projects each year. Typically held on Fridays and Saturdays, they are ideal for students unable to make long-term volunteer commitments. These opportunities combine hands-on service with reflection and community education.
Law students have the opportunity to volunteer at a breakfast for the homeless hosted at Grace Episcopal Church in Printers Row where they help serve food, distribute supplies and share legal information.
During spring break, students engage in short-term legal service projects with organizations like legal aid offices and government agencies. Tasks have included drafting clemency petitions, legal research, court support and more.
These opportunities not only allow you to give back but also provide valuable experience, perspective and professional connections in the public interest community.
Pledge to Serve
DePaul Law encourages all current students to complete and report at least 50 hours of service during their time in law school. Those who meet the 50-hour goal are recognized with a service award once those hours are reported and also will receive honor cords to wear at graduation.
Training & Getting Started
PBCSI collaborates with legal aid agencies and community service organizations to schedule trainings and related programming for pro bono and community service projects. Contact
PBCSI to connect with volunteer opportunities that fits your schedule and interests.
Reporting Hours
Current students should go to the internal portal for instructions on how to enter hours in
Vincent and to review the Reporting and Award Guidelines for eligibility.
Service Awards
DePaul Law students annually complete thousands of service hours by participating in a wide variety of volunteer opportunities including, among others:
- Preparing advanced directives for seniors
- Providing legal help to low-income individuals without attorneys through Illinois Free Legal Answers
- Helping victims of domestic violence obtain emergency orders of protection
- Assisting immigrants with petitions for asylum and citizenship applications
- Teaching constitutional law to students in Chicago Public Schools
- Participating in virtual legal clinics and helping clients from across the country with myriad legal matters
- Preparing and distributing soup to those experiencing food insecurity
- Crafting toys and other enrichment items for shelter animals
- Responding to the eviction and housing crisis in Chicago by assisting clients with preparing eviction sealing motions
- Preparing advanced directives for low-income LGBTQ seniors
- Drafting legal petitions and providing limited-scope consultations for expunging and sealing criminal records
- Performing legal research on police misconduct litigation
- Working with clients over the phone to help them apply for public benefits
- Assisting immigrants with petitions for asylum
- Serving as legal observers during racial justice protests
- Volunteering with public defender, state's attorney and other government offices
- Assisting voters through election protection hotlines
- Navigating self-represented litigants through court process during domestic relations judges’ court calls
- Packing food for distribution at food pantries and delivering food to individuals living in food deserts
- Making blankets for homeless youth
- Painting pictures to decorate a domestic violence shelter
- Creating videos teaching skills to seniors
Students who meet or exceed the 50-hour goal are recognized annually with one of four service awards:
- Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award: Named in honor of one of the law school’s most outstanding alumni, the Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Public Service Award is awarded to graduating students who complete more than 200 hours of volunteer service during their time at DePaul Law and who best exemplify the Vincentian commitment to service and social justice.
- President’s Award for Service: Awarded to students who complete 101 to 200 hours of volunteer work during their time at DePaul Law.
- Chancellor’s Award for Service: Awarded to students who complete 51 to 100 hours of volunteer work during their time at DePaul Law.
- Dean’s Certificate of Service: Awarded to students who complete 50 hours of volunteer work during their time at DePaul Law.