Law students are a valuable resource for legal aid organizations, helping extend your reach and support critical work. To ensure students only see opportunities they can take on, please follow the below best practices when posting on Paladin.
Share Only Student-Eligible Opportunities
If an opportunity is only for attorneys, please do not share it with your law school connections. This helps students more quickly find opportunities they are able to take on and reduces potential confusion.
If your opportunity is primarily for licensed attorneys but law students can participate under a supervising attorney, please either include relevant details for law students in the description or required experience field, or create a separate listing for law students. This ensures the opportunity accurately reflects the eligibility and supervision requirements for law students specifically.
Include an Effective Title and Thorough Description
Similar to a book title, craft a clear, engaging title that captures the attention of law students. See here for a one-pager on creating effective titles on Paladin.
Include a thorough description that outlines what the student is expected to assist with, as well as any information that would be helpful to include without providing any PII. The more detail you provide, the easier it is for students to determine whether the opportunity is a good fit.
Remote Opportunities? Share Broadly | In-Person? Share Locally
If your pro bono opportunity can be completed fully remotely, and doesn't require a bar license, share it broadly with law schools nationwide to maximize visibility and give students across the country a chance to participate. For opportunities tied to a specific location, only share them within your geographic region or post them on your public page to reach local students.
Select "Law Student" When Creating Your Listings
When filling out the opportunity creation form, make sure to select one or more relevant audiences within the "Who Can Volunteer," selecting law student only if a bar license is not required.
If "Law Students" isn’t selected as an audience, law school connections will appear under the "Connections unavailable for this opportunity" section of the sharing dropdown. For law student-appropriate opportunities, always include "Law Students" as an audience when sharing.
Include Training Details and Skills Development
When sharing a pro bono opportunity, specify the training students will receive and how they will be supported. Highlight the skills they can expect to develop — such as client intake and interviewing, legal research and writing, or drafting contracts and other documents. This helps students understand what skills they will develop and express interest with confidence.
Following these best practices ensures your pro bono opportunities reach the proper audience and helps your organization foster meaningful partnerships with law schools - benefitting both students and the communities you serve.
Questions? Reach out to [email protected].