Our Interview With The Experts At The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law Pro Bono Program

Juris Education interviewed Rachel Lawrence, Associate Director for Pro Bono & Public Interest Career Development at Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, for an exclusive look at what sets the school's Program apart.‍

What makes Catholic University of America Law's Pro-Bono program uniquely valuable for aspiring law students?

Catholic Law’s unique mission calls students to participate in the pro bono program. Starting their first year, they may apply to the Pro Bono Advisory Board, a student leadership organization dedicated to advancing pro bono culture. The Career Office connects them with a network of legal service providers located right in the nation’s capital, including the DC Bar Pro Bono Center. Students benefit from a Pro Bono Consortium comprised of seven Washington, DC law schools. Each year the consortium provides structured programming to deepen student engagement, including a Fall Pro Bono Training Series and an Alternative Spring Break. Catholic Law also offers an Immigration Spring Break trip providing students impactful, hands-on work in immigration law. Upper-level students gain invaluable real-world experience through the law school’s robust clinical program. Clinics include: the Columbus Community Legal Services: Families and the Law Clinic and Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Clinic; the Criminal Appellate Clinic, Criminal Prosecution Clinic, Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, Nonprofit Advocacy Clinic, Religious Liberty Clinic, Separation of Powers Clinic, and the Virginia Criminal Defense Clinic. Through the Pro Bono Program, students graduate with a deeply instilled public service ethos; ready not just to practice law, but to be a force for good.

How does your program prepare students for the realities of law school and the legal field?

Every student arrives with different experiences, goals, and anxieties, and navigating the first year can feel overwhelming. Catholic Law’s Pro Bono Program is designed to engage law students holistically, surrounding them with a network of mentors: classmates, upperclassmen, and attorneys who all have their best interests at heart. Participation in the program helps them develop both hard and soft skills essential to legal practice. Students gain cultural competency, learning to work effectively across diverse client populations. Most importantly, they develop emotional intelligence; the ability to listen, empathize, and connect with clients in ways that academic learning alone cannot teach. The program gives students the freedom to explore; to test different practice areas without committing to an internship. This low-stakes exploration helps them make more informed decisions about the kind of lawyer they want to become. Members of the Pro Bono Advisory Board sharpen their public speaking, writing, and leadership skills. All of this together not only helps shape the student’s character, it also strengthens their job search. Employers recognize and value applicants who demonstrate a genuine commitment to service, practical legal experience, and the professional maturity that comes from working with real clients on real issues.

For more information on the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law Pro Bono Program visit their website.

Juris Education is proud to interview experts at the nation's most renowned law schools for insights on what makes their programs unique and how they shape career-ready law students.