Boston University School of Law
Boston University
Boston University School of Law
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
www.bu.edu
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Dave Adams Pro Bono Coordinator
dadams@bu.edu
Maura Kelly
Associate Director
(617) 353-3141
kelly@bu.edu
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator
Description of Program
Boston University School of Law students are invited to participate in our voluntary pro bono program and to make a Pro Bono Pledge to perform a minimum of 35 hours during their three years in law school. Pro Bono work, for the purposes of the BUSL program, must be unpaid and not for academic credit. To meet the goals of our program, student pro bono work should involve the rendering of meaningful law-related service to persons of limited means or to organizations that serve such persons or to other organizations dedicated to underrepresented groups and/or social issues.
Legal work performed in one of the BUSL clinical programs for academic credit will not qualify.
Students who meet or exceed the pledged amount of hours will receive a notation on their law school transcripts.
Location of Program
The Career Development Office ("CDO"),with assistance as needed from the Public Service Committee, determines what work qualifies as pro bono work for the BUSL program.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
This is provided for by Dave Adams (50%) and by Maura Kelly (50%).
Funding
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Public Interest Project - http://people.bu.edu/pip/
Shelter Legal Services - This student group supplements the work of its parent group, Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc., to increase access to quality pro bono legal services for the poor. Since 1991, Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc. has combined the volunteer efforts of law students and attorneys to represent and advise thousands of homeless and poor people. Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc. now includes student volunteers from Boston College Law School, Boston University School of Law, New England School of Law and Suffolk Law School. It holds weekly legal clinics at two Boston shelters and three Cambridge locations. Student volunteers, with the assistance of attorneys, staff the weekly legal clinics, advise clients and advocate in courts and administrative agencies throughout the Commonwealth.
See http://www, bu.edu/law/studentlife/organizations.html or http://www.bu.edu/law/jd/concentrations/pi/studorg.html
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Awards/Recognition
At graduation, faculty present a Faculty Award to a graduating student or students who promote the ideals of community service. Beginning 2006, students will be recognized in a separate awards reception for pro bono and public interest work. Faculty and alumni/ae also will be recognized.
Community Service
OnGoing Community Service Programs: Part of BUSL's first year orientation includes an optional community service day. Students sign up to do a variety of service projects in the Boston area, including Habitat for Humanity; getting an inner city school ready for the start of classes; cleaning up Boston parks; and serving meals at a homeless shelter.
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Jennifer Perrigo, Esq.Assistant Director
jperrigo@bu.edu
(617) 353.3158
Career Development Office
Maura Kelly, Esq.
Associate Director for Public Service and Pro Bono Programs
kelly@bu.edu
(617) 353.8993
Career Development Office
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
None.
Public Interest Centers
None.
Public Interest Clinics
Civil Litigation Clinic - Students are responsible for their own caseload and gain valuable lawyering skills. In addition to gaining important courtroom experience, students interview clients and witnesses, draft pleadings and other legal documents, negotiate with attorneys, and conduct research - all under the close supervision of faculty members. http://www.bu.edu/law/jd/clinics/civil.htmlCriminal Trial Advocacy- Students gain experience as either defense or prosecuting attorneys in Boston Municipal Court, Boston Juvenile Court, and Quincy District Court. Students conduct investigations to formulate trial strategy, file appropriate pre-trial motions, participate in plea bargaining, try cases before judges, and make sentencing arguments. http://www.bu.edu/law/jd/clinics/criminal.html
Legislation Clinics- Students in the Legislation Clinic design, draft, and evaluate legislation on important public issues. Student drafters work with state senators and representatives, administrative agencies, and public interest groups to create legislative solutions to problems. Students may also specialize in health or intellectual property issues if they choose. http://www.bu.edu/law/jd/clinics/legislation.html
Wrongful Convictions Clinic - Students screened prisoner applications for assistance from the New England Innocence Project.
Externships/Internships
Boston University School of Law offers two public interest externship programs: The Legal Externship Program gives second and third-year students the opportunity to gain practical experience in an area of substantive interest. Students are exposed to the realities of law practice while under the supervision of well-respected practitioners. Over the years, hundreds of students have expanded their experience through legal externships in such areas as civil rights, health care, environmental law, domestic violence and children's law. For a complete list of placements, visit http://www.bu.edu/law/jd/clinics/externship.html#top. The Legislative Externship Program matches second and third-year students with Senators and Representatives at the Massachusetts State House.
Classes with a Public Service Component
Housing Law - This seminar course focuses on the various policy, legislative, and social aspects of the issues surrounding rent control, public housing, subsidized housing, condominiums, housing discrimination, zoning, environmental problems in housing and premises liability.
Public Interest Journals
The Public Interest Law Journal is a non-partisan, scholarly forum, student-edited publication that is dedicated to the discussion of public interest legal issues, focusing on constitutional law, criminal law, and family law, as well as legal ethics, environmental issues, education law, and civil rights law.
Public Interest Career Assistance
BUSL is a member of the Massachusetts Law School Consortium which organizes two public interest career fairs- one in the fall and another in the spring- devoted exclusively to public interest opportunities. The Career Development Office offers one-on-one counseling sessions, informational and panel programs, a public interest brown bag lunch series, alumni contacts, alumni mentors and print and online resource materials. Several members of the faculty are also instrumental in guiding students who are interested in pursuing public interest careers.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
www.bu.edu/law/finaid/alumni
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Boston University School of Law counsels students regarding, and offers resources to help students identify, post-graduate fellowships and awards.
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Boston University School of Law counsels students regarding, and offers resources to help students identify, post-graduate fellowships and awards.
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
T The Public Interest Project sponsors several events through the academic year to raise funds for grants to support students in summer public-interest and public-service positions.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Faculty Brown Bag lunch talks - Distinguished members of our faculty spoke on issues such as the military's policy on non-recruitment of gay and lesbian persons; right to die issues; medical marijuana; and the legal duties of physicians and lawyers in conducting interrogations of unlawful combatants at Guantanamo Bay. Public Interest Project's Annual Auction - Each year the BUSL Public Interest Projects organizes an auction to raise money to support students engaging in nonpaying public interest summer jobs.
Student Public Interest Groups
Black Law Students Association - Visited area high schools to talk to minority and disadvantaged students about law study and the practice of law. BLSA also organized a high school mentoring program. National Lawyers Guild Chapter
