Class of 2022 Completes Record Number of Pro Bono Hours

Call it nearly six and half years, 77 months, 336 weeks, 2,350 days, or 3,394,320 minutes. No matter how you count it up, it’s impressive.

The Class of 2022, with 165 members, completed at least 56,572 hours of pro bono and public service during its time at Albany Law School. This number includes when students provided legal assistance to small businesses, farmers, veterans, immigrants, tenants facing landlord issues, community members filing taxes, non-profit organizations, schools, and many more.

The Justice Center at Albany Law School administers the pro bono program and operates the law school’s five in-house clinics, which provide free legal services to eligible Capital Region residents and offers students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience.

“As we returned to in-person opportunities to provide legal assistance to our community, students stepped up to the challenge of meeting the ever-increasing needs of people in the Capital Region and beyond. Legal assistance for uncharted areas were crucial during the height of the pandemic—from unemployment payments, rapidly changing anti-eviction and anti-foreclosure legislation, restrictions for businesses, and more—and our students were ready to help and learn along the way,” said Professor Ted De Barbieri, director of the Community Economic Development Clinic and the Pro Bono Program within The Justice Center.

“The Class of 2022 has been committed to pro bono service throughout their time at Albany Law School. They quickly adapted to the challenges of the pandemic and continued to provide top-notch legal assistance through all platforms—both virtually and in person,” said Professor Sarah Rogerson, Director of The Justice Center at Albany Law School. “This number is demonstrative of Albany Law School’s commitment to educating public service-minded attorneys who give back throughout their careers starting with The Justice Center programs, including Clinics, internships and externships, student-led Pro Bono Projects.”

This is the fifth year the law school has calculated the hourly sum through a self-reporting platform. Awards are given to students who meet the following thresholds: Silver (250 hours or more), Gold (500 hours or more), and Platinum (750 hours or more). Those who complete 100 hours of service or more to the student-run Pro Bono Society earn Pro Bono Honors.

2022 Pro Bono Scholars

Leila Dwyer
Kyra Gainswith
Jordan Gwynn
Ryan Hayes
Christana Majekodunmi
Ashney Mills
Mina Mirzaie
Elizabeth Walsh