Federal appeals court Judge David Tatel and U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. shared their pro bono experiences and inspirations that led them to take up public service jobs during a panel discussion Friday morning.

The discussion was part of the Equal Justice Works Annual Conference and Career Fair and was moderated by the organization’s executive director, David Stern. About 300 potential law students, law school faculty and lawyers themselves filled a ballroom at the Marriott in the Washington neighborhood of Woodley Park to hear the two speak.