Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Southern Methodist University
Dedman School of Law
P.O. Box 750116
Dallas, TX 75275
www.law.smu.edu/
Law School Pro Bono
Programs
Contact Information
Rebecca L. Greenan
Director of the Public Service Program
214.768.2567
rgreenan@mail.smu.edu
Category Type
Pro Bono Graduation Requirement. Students must complete 30 hours of pro
bono service as a requirement for graduation.
Description of Programs
The goal of SMU's pro bono requirement is to enhance the legal
profession and the law school curriculum by exposing lawyers-to-be to
the importance of and the need for a life-long commitment to public
service. The Director of the Public Service Program helps students meet
the pro bono requirement. Students can search for a pre-approved
placement on the Public Service Program website. In addition to
information available on this website, students may access hard copy
information about pre-approved placements in the career/public service
library. Students may propose their own public service placement by
submitting to the Public Service Director a Student Initiated Placement
(SIP) form for approval. All Public Service Program forms are
available on this website.
To qualify, service must be law-related with no academic credit nor financial remuneration received. The 30-hours cannot be satisfied until after completion of the first-year curriculum. Students may perform their 30-hours at any of the law school's clinics (civil/criminal/family violence/tax), provided that the hours are not being claimed for both public service and academic credit.
Location of Programs
Stand-Alone Program. See www.law.smu.edu/psp/index.htm
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The Public Service Program has a full-time Director. The Director
administers the program and reports to the Dean of the Law School. The
Director also consults with and receives direction from the law school
Public Service Committee. The committee includes three faculty members,
appointed by the Dean of the Law School. In addition to the Director,
the school employs a half-time Administrative Assistant.
Funding
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education
Projects
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
The Faculty at SMU supports the need for public interest legal services
and commits each member of the faculty to engage in public interest
legal services consistent with the public service requirement for
students. In addition to the student requirement, the faculty passed a resolution requiring faculty members to
perform public service.
Awards/Recognition
Students performing in excess of 100 hours of public service are
recognized at graduation.
Community Service
Law School Public Interest
Programs
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Contact Information
Rebecca L. Greenan
Director of the Public Service Program
214.768.2567
rgreenan@mail.smu.edu
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Public Interest Centers
Public Interest Clinics
Externships/Internships
Classes with a Public Service Component
Public Interest Journals
Public Interest Career Support Center
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Student Public Interest Groups
