Legal Extern, Pro Bono Center

District of Columbia Bar•Washington, DC

75d•Hybrid

About The Position

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, an independent nonprofit organization, seeks a law student interested in civil legal services for a legal externship position for Spring 2026. The Pro Bono Center transforms lives by providing free legal assistance to individuals, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses through volunteer lawyers. Established in 1978, the Pro Bono Center has become the largest provider of pro bono legal help in the District of Columbia. The Center serves more than 20,000 individuals, nonprofits, and small businesses each year. With the support of our donors and more than 1,500 dedicated attorney volunteers, we operate award-winning legal clinics, projects, and resource centers where and when the community most needs our help. This position will support our bankruptcy, consumer, legal information helpline and advice & referral brief services programs by conducting legal research and analysis, updating materials that are distributed to the public, and working directly with our clients. The student must be enrolled in a for-credit externship program. There is a minimum requirement of 15 hours of work per week over at least 11 weeks. This position will be supervised by the managing attorney and will support programs in several practice areas. This is an unpaid position. The Pro Bono Center will review and sign contracts necessary for course credit.

Requirements

Successful completion of at least two semesters of law school.
Successful completion of a course in legal research and writing.
Record of academic and/or professional accomplishment.
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law.
Must be able to interact with individuals with diverse backgrounds, including people of limited means, with patience and compassion.
Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working environment.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Must be detail oriented and deadline driven. Able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Must work well in a team environment and be able to interact, including in-person, with Bar members, volunteers, vendors, the public and Pro Bono Center and Bar employees.
Must work well under pressure, possess excellent organizational abilities, and able to manage several priorities in a day.
Must be adaptable, creative, and self-motivated.
Ability to handle and maintain the confidentiality of highly sensitive information.

Nice To Haves

Additional language proficiencies.
Previous experience at a non-profit or legal services organization.

Responsibilities

Conducts in-depth research on various legal issues, case law, statutes, and regulations. Externs often summarize their findings in memoranda or briefs.
Assists in the preparation of legal documents, such as motions, pleadings, contracts, and briefs. Externs may also draft correspondence and other legal writing.
Participates in clients and customer interviews, gathering facts, and helping to prepare clients for court appearances. Externs may also assist in drafting client letters or providing legal information.
Observes court proceedings, hearings, and trials. Externs often take notes and may discuss the cases with their supervising attorney or judge.
Assists with the organization and management of case files, including reviewing discovery documents, organizing exhibits, and summarizing depositions.
Participates in meetings with clients, opposing counsel, and other stakeholders.
Performs administrative duties related to case management, such as filing, photocopying, and organizing documents.
Assists Pro Bono Center staff in preparing for and reporting on various remote and in-person legal clinics.
Attends in-person and virtual clinics and resource center, and provides support to Pro Bono Center staff, volunteer attorneys, and clients.
Responds to phone calls and emails from members of the client community, and provides appropriate information and referrals, as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.