Making the case for greater public support of our universities: Law schools provide staggering amount of pro bono services

The American Association of Law Schools (AALS) counted and valued the amount of pro bono services law schools provided in 2017. They estimate the value at $82 million (!).

The amount shows that law schools -- and I'd argue higher education in general -- provide much greater value to the community, society, and the economy than is obvious from their core function of educating students. They tend to get relatively little credit for it, however. That is particularly true when the value takes the form of services to the poor.

Pro bono services are not free to law schools. They cost time but also money. Pro bono coordinators and clinical faculty and staff are not free. As higher education is ever more expected to provide free services -- theater and sporting events, community lectures and venture start-ups, pro bono legal services and free teaching -- we should not forget that these services are not free to the institutions that offer them. Counting and putting a value on these services should be the first step toward public support. After all our universities support our communities, and therefore deserves both credit and public support, much more than they currently get.