Florida Coastal School of Law
Florida Coastal School of Law
8787 Baypine Road
Jacksonville, FL 32256
www.fcsl.edu
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Ellen Kiefer SeftonDirector of Career Services
esefton@fcsl.edu
(904) 680-7728
Dionne Smith Young
Counselor, Career Services Department
dsyoung@fcsl.edu
(904) 680-7734
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator
Description of Program
A Student Service Notebook is maintained to record students' pro bono hours, while a separate Service Opportunities Notebook provides placement listings. Pro bono opportunities, in addition, are publicized via email on the job opportunity listserv and on the "Pro Bono - Public Interest Law" bulletin board. The faculty are considering an official policy statement as follows: "Florida Coastal School of Law students should aspire to render at least 20 hours of pro bono public service during their tenure at the school of law. Law students successfully meeting this goal will receive a Pro Bono - Public Interest Law Program Certificate and receive recognition at graduation."
Location of Program
The Career Services Department, which encompasses Career Services, Alumni Relations and Pro Bono/Public Interest Law.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
No extra compensation for the Director of Professional Development is allocated for developing and running this program. The Director and a faculty member currently supervise the existing pro bono projects.
Funding
None, yet.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Guardian ad Litem ProgramThe Prisoner Legal Research Project – This organization is sponsored by FCSL's NAPIL chapter.
The Women's Legal Assistance Pro Bono Project – This group is a partnership of the FCSL's Women Law Students' Association students and the Jacksonville Women Lawyers' Association.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
FCSL conveys its expectation that faculty members will provide community or public service. Faculty members submit an annual plan for satisfying their community or public service with their contributions being reported annually to the administration in a service report and factored into retention, promotion and tenure decisions.
Awards/Recognition
The Jerome Kermit Coble, Jr. Award for Distinguished Public Service recognizes a student at each twice-a-year graduation ceremonies who has demonstrated a significant commitment to public service. It is anticipated that students participating in the pro bono program will be recognized during a reception, be distinguished at graduation, and receive a certificate.
The Barbara McCalla Memorial Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated compassion, commitment to both the community and FCSL, and a strong interest in the support of justice for the less fortunate.
Community Service
Jacksonville Bar's Holiday Adopt-A-Senior Citizen ProjectHabitat for Humanity Jacksonville (Habijax)
Christian Legal Society's Canned Food Drive
Women Law Student Association's Dress for Success Project
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Ellen Kiefer Sefton Director of Career Services
esefton@fcsl.edu
9904) 680-7728
Dionne Smith Young
Counselor, Career Services Department
dsyoung@fcsl.edu
(904) 680-7734
Lisa Diaz
Career Services Coordinator
ldiaz@fcsl.edu
(904) 680-7748
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Public Interest Centers
Public Interest Clinics
Civil Law ClinicDomestic Violence Clinic
Public Defender's Clinic
Externships/Internships
Judicial Internships
Classes with a Public Service Component
Public Interest Journals
Public Interest Career Assistance
No one counselor is assigned to this function. However, most public interest counseling is handled by the Director of Center for Professional Development. The Center for Professional Development sponsored a Dine & Discover Career Series that included programs on Equal Justice Works Post-graduate fellowships and Public Interest Law Careers featuring public interest lawyers.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
Not yet.
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:
The Florida Bar Foundation Public Service Fellows Grant for Florida law schools funded $10,000 for four FCSL student public service fellows to work with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid's Refuge and Immigration Project from May 1 to December 31, 2001.
The Florida Bar Foundation Public Service Fellows Grant for Florida law schools is providing $14,000 of funding for three FCSL student public service fellows to work with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid on the Public Benefits Project from May 1 to December 31, 2002.
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. provides an annual paid Summer Public Service Fellowship.
The Florida Bar Foundation-sponsored 2002 Legal Services Summer Fellowship provides a $5,000 stipend for a FCSL student to work at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid during summer 2002.
Other Funding Sources:
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc. provides an annual paid Summer Public Service Fellowship.
The Florida Bar Foundation-sponsored 2002 Legal Services Summer Fellowship provides a $5,000 stipend for a FCSL student to work at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid during summer 2002.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
The Center for Professional Development sponsors a Dine & Discover Career Series that includes programs on Equal Justice Works Post-graduate fellowships and Public Interest Law Careers featuring public interest lawyers.
Student Public Interest Groups
CAPIL
