No. Mandatory pro bono hours can only be clocked from 15th May of your first year of undertaking law, and after you have successfully passed (by obtaining 25/25 marks) the LC2009/LCJ5009 quiz. Once you have fulfilled these two requirements the hours you clock whilst undertaking an SILE approved opportunity can go towards fulfilling your 20 hours of mandatory pro bono work. Hours undertaken working on pro bono projects during your first year of law school before you fulfil these requirements are classified as voluntary pro bono hours.
Mandatory pro bono hours refer to the 20-hour pro bono graduating requirement all NUS Law students are required to complete. Voluntary pro bono hours refer to (a) hours completed in excess of the 20-hour mandatory requirement, or (b) hours undertaken on non-SILE approved projects, or (c) hours undertaken during year 1 of law school, or (d) hours taken after year one of law school but prior to passing the LC2009/LCJ5009 quiz.
Yes. NUS Law encourages students to go above and beyond the mandatory minimum of 20 hours of pro bono work during their degree. Beyond the 20 hour requirement, students can also participate in a wide range of pro bono projects (whether initiated by students or the Centre) that do not carry SILE approval. These hours will be considered voluntary pro bono hours.
No. To be able to claim mandatory pro bono hours the project must be (a) approved by SILE, and (b) you must have clocked the hours after completing your first year of law school and passing (by obtaining 25/25 marks) the LC2009/LCJ5009 quiz.
Students may complete their mandatory pro bono hours by participating in SILE approved projects that are run by student clubs or groups (for instance, the Pro Bono Group, Criminal Justice Club, Freshman Orientation Central Committee, etc). In this regard, please note that some of these student clubs or groups may prioritise opportunities for their members. For information about membership in such student clubs or groups, please refer to the answer to question number 10 below.
In addition, students may also choose to initiate their own programmes (for instance, assisting with CLAS or LASCO casework, etc).
HOWEVER, in order to record the hours as part of their mandatory pro bono hours requirements, all activities must be approved by SILE.
New opportunities are posted on TalentConnect. You can amend your TalentConnect account settings to receive an email notification when a new opportunity is posted.
All students must fill in a timesheet whilst completing their pro bono opportunity (template may be downloaded from CANVAS LC2009/LCJ5009 Course). In the timesheet, the student must record the daily hours spent, and the nature of the work undertaken. The timesheet must be signed by the opportunity supervisor. The student should then log their hours in TalentConnect and upload their signed timesheet to TalentConnect. The Centre will check your inputted hours and timesheet and then approve your hours.
You need to decide if you want the opportunity to be SILE approved, and one that students can use to collect mandatory hours, or not SILE approved which means students can collect voluntary hours. Please consider the SILE requirements and then complete this form, please view this guidance when completing the form. Then please send the completed form to the Centre at probono@nus.edu.sg. For more details please click here to read the guidance on Initiating and Overseeing Pro Bono Projects.
Yes, please click here to visit our section on library resources.
To find out more about how to join the PBG (Pro Bono Group), you can contact nus.pbg@nuslawclub.com.
To find out more about how to join the CJC (Criminal Justice Club), you can contact criminalprobono@nuscriminaljustice.com and president@nuscriminaljustice.com. Kindly send your email to both addresses.
Please note that membership is subject to the respective group's own criteria, timelines and other administrative considerations.
For more information about their activities and projects, you can visit their respective websites at NUS Pro Bono Group and NUS Criminal Justice Club.
Please email the above as soon as you can to check on their recruitment period and qualifications which varies for different groups and projects.