Learn how legal services organizations (LSOs) can effectively collaborate with law schools and engage law students in meaningful pro bono work. Insights from three New York law schools: Hofstra, St. John’s University School of Law, and New York Law School.

Expanding Access to Justice—Together

Law students are among the most eager volunteers in the legal field. When legal services organizations (LSOs) partner strategically with law schools, both sides benefit: students gain valuable hands-on experience, and LSOs increase their capacity to serve more clients.

In a recent Paladin webinar, representatives from Hofstra Law School, St. John’s University School of Law, and New York Law School shared their insights on how LSOs can better collaborate with law schools to create meaningful, sustainable pro bono partnerships.

Here are the key takeaways for LSOs looking to build or strengthen those connections.

1. Flexibility Is Essential

Law students’ schedules vary dramatically, so flexibility is key to attracting volunteers.

✅ Short-term or limited-scope projects (e.g., intake clinics, research tasks, or weekend initiatives) are ideal for busy students.

✅ Semester-long engagements (about five hours per week) let students build deeper skills and relationships.

✅ Remote opportunities expand access for students juggling coursework, jobs, or family responsibilities.

“The more range and flexibility of options, the better,” noted Professor Jennifer Gundlach (Hofstra Law). “Substantive area is less important than offering projects that are well-scoped and accessible.”

Simple, structured tasks—like intake interviews or drafting research memos—can make a major impact for LSOs and provide students with meaningful, real-world experience.

2. Early Engagement Builds Long-Term Commitment

Many students, even 1Ls, are eager to begin hands-on work as soon as possible. Early opportunities help them build confidence, professional identity, and a commitment to public interest and public service.

Students crave the chance to get their feet wet early on. Even helping with client intakes or research gives them valuable exposure to practice."
Seth Mills Director of Public Service and Pro Bono Initiatives at New York Law School

Offering first-year-friendly projects can also introduce LSOs to volunteers who may return later as interns or pro bono attorneys.

3. Preparation and Support Make a Difference

Several law schools provide pre-placement training to ensure students arrive ready to contribute. This can include ethics, client communication, and public interest law sessions, easing the supervisory burden for LSOs.

For example, St. John’s Law provides a required pre-service training for its annual Spring Break Service Program participants—where faculty cover professionalism, confidentiality, and best practices in client interaction.

If your organization doesn’t have the resources to train volunteers directly, law school partners can often help fill that gap.

4. Communication Is Crucial

Prompt, clear communication can make or break student engagement.

Make sure someone at your organization is monitoring your Paladin account and responding within a few days. Otherwise, students may move on to another project.”
Jennifer A. Gundlach Faculty Director of Public Justice Programs at Hofstra Law

Assign a point person to handle volunteer communications and keep law school administrators copied on emails to ensure accurate tracking of hours and placements. Responsiveness builds trust and helps secure long-term relationships.

5. Craft Compelling Opportunity Listings

Students are drawn to clear, engaging opportunities that emphasize both skill-building and impact.

Best practices for LSO listings:

  • Use a specific, descriptive title (e.g., “Assist Immigrants with Family Visa Petitions” rather than “Immigration Project”).
  • Outline tasks, time commitment, and supervision clearly.
  • List preferred skills, such as fluency in another language.
  • Highlight training or mentorship offered.
  • Emphasize impact—how the student’s work will help clients.
  • Offer remote options where possible.

Popular student interest areas include immigration, housing, criminal record sealing, and voting rights.

6. Use Paladin to Simplify Collaboration

Through Paladin, LSOs can connect directly with law schools at no cost and manage their partnerships efficiently.

Once connected, LSOs can:

  • Post opportunities visible to students in the schools’ Paladin dashboards
  • Track interest and engagement
  • Integrate with case management systems like LegalServer or JusticeServer

Paladin makes it easy for LSOs to grow their volunteer base, strengthen relationships, and focus more time on serving clients.

If you already have a Paladin account, just head to your Network Tab to start connecting with law schools.

If you don’t have an account yet, you can request a demo and our team will get you set up.

For any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Stephanie Dworkin Bio Picture

Stephanie Dworkin

Stephanie joins us from the corporate team at Goodwin Procter in Boston. Prior to Goodwin, Stephanie worked as a legal intern at the Innocence Project and on the Customer Experience team at ZocDoc. Having worked in both tech and law, she is thrilled to be joining the Paladin team!

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