North Carolina Central University

Search the Directory

The Pro Bono Clinic

The NCCU Law Pro Bono Clinic gives law students hands-on experience in public-interest lawyering through community-based legal service projects and partnerships that help expand access to justice.

Message from the Clinic Director

Lakethia Jefferies Pro Bono Clinic Director headshot

Welcome to the NCCU Law Pro Bono Clinic!

The Pro Bono Clinic advances access to justice while providing students with meaningful, hands-on legal experience. Through partnerships with attorneys, courts, nonprofits, and community organizations, our law students help address critical legal needs while developing the skills, professionalism, and judgment necessary for effective lawyering.

By combining service, innovation, and experiential learning, we strive to deliver high-quality legal assistance to underserved communities and prepare the next generation of client-centered advocates.

We invite students, alumni, attorneys, and community partners to join us in this important work.

Lakethia Jefferies
Clinic Director

Student Information

The Pro Bono Clinic is open to all NCCU Law students and offers flexible opportunities to gain practical legal experience while serving the community.

  • Open to all enrolled NCCU Law students
  • No GPA requirements or prior clinic/externship experience required
  • Participation is voluntary

Students may participate in a variety of projects, including:

  • Legal advice and intake clinics
  • Wills and estate planning
  • Housing and tenant advocacy
  • Domestic violence assistance
  • Expunction and second-chance initiatives
  • Community legal education
  • Technology-enabled legal services

  • Flexible participation throughout the academic year.
  • Project-specific training and attorney supervision.
  • Opportunities to develop practical lawyering skills, professionalism, and ethical judgment.
  • Pro bono hours that count toward law school, bar, and professional recognition programs.

Some projects may require additional training or have limited enrollment based on client needs and attorney availability.

Through participation in the Pro Bono Clinic, students develop practical lawyering skills, professional identity, and a commitment to public service. Students will:

  • Conduct client interviews and intake meetings with professionalism, empathy, and cultural humility.
  • Apply legal knowledge to real-world legal issues under attorney supervision.
  • Analyze legal problems and assist with drafting client-centered legal documents and resources.
  • Demonstrate ethical judgment, including confidentiality, competence, and appropriate professional conduct.
  • Communicate legal information clearly and effectively to clients, attorneys, and community partners.
  • Collaborate with attorneys, nonprofit organizations, courts, and other stakeholders.
  • Utilize innovative and technology-supported approaches to expand access to justice.
  • Recognize the impact of social, economic, and cultural factors on legal needs and legal services.
  • Strengthen professionalism, accountability, and service-oriented advocacy.

Through these experiences, students gain meaningful exposure to the lawyer's role in advancing justice while developing skills that support both professional success and community impact.

  • Open to all enrolled NCCU Law students in good academic standing.
  • No GPA requirement or prior clinic/externship experience required.
  • Completion of required orientations and project-specific trainings.
  • Students must work under attorney supervision and may not provide legal advice independently.
  • Compliance with clinic policies, confidentiality requirements, and professional conduct rules is required.
  • Students participating in remote projects must have access to email and required technology.

Potential Client Information

The NCCU Law Pro Bono Clinic does not provide direct legal representation to the public. Students participate in attorney-supervised, limited-scope legal service projects through partnerships with legal aid organizations, courts, nonprofits, and community agencies.

Through our established partnerships, students may participate in a variety of pro bono initiatives and community-based legal service projects including but not limited to:

  • Wills and estate planning (Elder Law Project)
  • Housing advice and tenant advocacy
  • Expunction and second-chance services
  • Domestic violence complaint drafting
  • Free legal answers (online legal advice)
  • Community legal education programs

  • Low-income individuals and families
  • Older adults and seniors
  • Survivors of domestic violence

For questions about clinic services, eligibility, appointments, or volunteer opportunities, please contact the NCCU Law Pro Bono Clinic:

We are committed to providing professional, community-centered service and responding to inquiries in a timely manner.

Clinic Highlights

The 2023 NCBA Student Group Pro Bono Award was awarded by the North Carolina Bar Association for the Elder Law Project, recognizing outstanding student-led service to older adults through strong community partnership.

NCCU was recognized for a cross-institutional expunction initiative in collaboration with Duke University School of Law and University of North Carolina School of Law, expanding access to record-clearing services through collective impact.

The Clinic has been recognized by the Association of American Law Schools for its innovative use of technology to deliver pro bono legal services, including work supported through the Gavel platform, demonstrating how legal tech can responsibly expand access to justice.