Written by: Maddie Schwarck
From courtrooms and government agencies to nonprofit and advocacy groups, more than 80 Iowa Law students provided free legal services to communities and organizations, mostly in Iowa, as part of important and impactful pro bono work last year.
A measurable impact
The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) recently released its 2024 Law Student Pro Bono Hours Report. Nearly 19,000 graduating students from 82 schools contributed more than 4.7 million hours of legal services—averaging 248 hours per student. The estimated value of these services exceeds $157 million, according to the Independent Sector, a nonprofit organization coalition, which estimates the value of volunteer time as $33.49 an hour.
Iowa Law contributed to this national effort, reporting nearly 22,000 total pro bono hours, exceeding an estimated value of $734,500, referencing the estimated $33.49 an hour value, once again. Hours benefited service organizations and nonprofits as well as government agencies and judicial chambers, providing students opportunities for service work while developing professional skills.
A variety of real-world experiences
Associate professor of instruction Brian Farrell, who directs the Citizen Lawyer Program, which connects students with pro bono work, community service, and other programming, highlighted several projects as part of the reporting. These include placements at public defender offices and county attorney offices in Iowa, as well as contributions to the Iowa Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, which works to promote and advance strategies for ensuring equal access to justice.
Law students also supported Iowa based organizations like Kids First, a Cedar Rapids based law center assisting children in parental dissolution proceedings, the Muscatine Self-Help Clinic, a self-help clinic in which Muscatine Legal Services organizes for unrepresented litigants, and the Tribal Outreach Project which offers legal services to native communities.
Farrell emphasized the positive impact of the thousands of service hours provided.
“Iowa Law students are helping maximize the ability of nonprofits and government entities to serve the people of Iowa while giving students valuable opportunities to develop legal skills and a lifelong commitment to public service,” Farrell said.
In addition to these law-related volunteer projects, Iowa Law students also contributed pro bono hours through the College of Law’s Clinical Law Program and its Field Placement Program. Clinical professor of law June Tai, who also serves as director of the field placement program, says students conduct legal work, either full or part-time, under the supervision of a practicing attorney in an immersive setting of their choice.
Field placements in 2024 included a joint trial court externship with Chief Judge C.J. Williams of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa and Judge Justin Lightfoot of Iowa's Sixth Judicial District. Students also worked with federal and state entities, as well as two public interest organizations.
Mattie Francis, a staff assistant who supports the field placement program, says Iowa law students are making an impact across placements. One example is at Root & Rebound, an organization that supports people re-entering society after prison time.
“Externs conduct legal research and draft materials for public legal education projects focused on reentry advocacy,” Francis said. “Their work helps create accessible resources that support individuals navigating reentry after incarceration, emphasizing community-centered lawyering and policy-informed writing.”
Students also gained real courtroom and advocacy experience at the Iowa Office of the State Public Defender. Those who worked on juvenile matters represented parents or advocated for youth in delinquency proceedings, collaborated closely with state agencies and opposing counsel, as well as a guardian ad litem, or a person appointed by the court to represent the best interest of a child. Students assigned to adult cases developed client counseling skills, drafted motions, and appeared in court.
A commitment to service and learning
Iowa Law’s contributions through more than 20,000 pro bono hours reflect the college’s commitment to public service and experiential learning for students.
These efforts support unmet legal needs in Iowa and beyond while helping students develop professional skills, create memorable experiences, and foster a commitment to justice that will serve them well as they begin their legal careers after graduation.