University of Kansas School of Law
University of Kansas
School of Law
1535 W. 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66045
www.law.ku.edu
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Todd RogersDirector of Career Services
tarogers@ku.edu
785-864-9257
Category Type
Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program
Description of Program
These opportunities are promoted through announcements, newsletter and the website.
Placements are evaluated by student and employer input.
These opportunities are encouraged through the award of scholarships.
Location of Program
The pro bono program is within the office of career services.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
Dean Mai is compensated for her services, and there is no specific percentage of time allocated to overseeing this program.
Students advise the program on an informal basis.
Funding
This program is included in the budget of the Office of Career Services, and goes back at least as far as 1996.
VITA is given office space, administrative and secretarial support, computers, telephones, and supplies.
Each faculty member receives an annual Professional Development Account, which may be used to help fund pro bono activities related to the faculty member's professional research and interests. Administrative assistance is provided as needed.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Public Interest Law Society/Kansas City Day Laborer Project - Day laborers in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area will work for individuals and firms on a daily or longer-term basis. Often these workers will work for short or even extended periods without being paid, trusting that the employer will eventually pay them as agreed. The project works with these day laborers to educate them as to their rights and to assist them in getting the employer to obey relevant laws.The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) - The VITA program has been in existence since at least 1996. In 2004-05, 40 law school volunteers prepared an average of 50 tax returns per week. Appointment hours were scheduled at the Law School three days per week, and at four low-income community service centers. Two faculty members who teach the tax curriculum provided guidance and oversight.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Faculty members are active and enthusiastic participants in every student group pro bono project, from providing items to be auctioned at Pub Night (including gourmet meals and windsurfing lessons) to participating in the Fun Run to making donations.
The Law School Mission Statement provides: "A final major component of the School of Law's mission is to provide valuable service to the legal profession, the university, the city and state, the nation, and the international community. The School of Law supports the public service activities of its faculty, staff, and students and encourages them to explore the opportunities that are available for them to contribute to their profession and society."
Faculty members serve as advisors to all student groups. Faculty serve as advisors and participants in each of the activities.
Awards/Recognition
The Walter Hiersteiner Outstanding Service Award is given to the 3L student at the Hooding Ceremony, whose service to his or her fellow students in the school of law or the university community demonstrates the greatest promise for contribution to the legal profession and to society. The Outstanding Leadership Award is also awarded to a 3L student at the Hooding Ceremony to the graduate who has most distinguished himself or herself through leadership in the School of Law. The Samuel Mellinger Scholarship, Leadership, and Service Award is given to the 3L student at the Hooding Ceremony who has most distinguished himself or herself in the combined areas of scholarship, leadership and service.
Community Service
Many of our student organizations are involved in community service projects. BLSA(Black Law Students Association) annually sponsors a Thanksgiving food drive. The Non-Traditional Students in Law sponsor an annual clothing drive to collect business attire clothing for low-income persons wanting to get back into the workforce. The International Law Society hosts an annual wine tasting to raise funds for various worthy causes, including (more recently) refugee relief in the Darfur Region of Sudan and for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Women in Law sponsors an annual Pub Night event to raise money for local women's charities.
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Todd Rogers
Assistant Dean for Career Services
785.864.9257
tarogers@ku.edu
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Elder Law Certificate Program
This Certificate Program includes courses in Poverty Law, Administrative Law, and Elder Law, including a live client clinic requirement. The Tribal Law Certificate Program includes courses in tribal law and process and an internship with a tribal legal department or a private or public interest law firm specializing in Indian Law.
Media, Law and Policy Certificate Program
This Certificate Program includes courses in First Amendment Freedoms, Administrative Law and Public Policy Clinics (Media, Public Policy, Legislative).
JD/MSW Joint Degree Program
This Program allows students with an undergraduate degree in social work to earn a law degree and an MSW in a combined program. Similar joint degree programs are available in the areas of Philosophy, Urban Planning, Health Policy and Management, and Public Administration.
Public Interest Centers
The Public Interest Center is part of the Office of Career Services, under the direction of Crystal M. Mai, Assistant Dean, 785/864-9208 or cmai@ku.edu.
Public Interest Clinics
Criminal Prosecution Clinic - The program assigns students to work at various local prosecutors' offices, the state attorney general's office and offices of the United States Attorney. Student interns assist prosecutors in virtually all phases of the criminal process, including criminal trials and appeals.Elder Law Externship - Students work under the supervision of experienced attorneys representing clients in matters such as income maintenance, social security, Medicare/Medicaid, and consumer protection.
Externship Clinic - This clinic provides students an opportunity to perform legal work under the supervision of a praciticing attorney at pre-approved governmental agencies and public international organizations.
Judicial Clerkship Clinic - Students serve as law clerks for state and federal trial judges in the area. The clinic introduces students to the practice of law from a judge's perspective and gives students a practical understanding of the operation of the courts in which they serve.
Legal Aid Clinic - Students represent indigent citizens of Douglas County in settings including domestic relations, landlord-tenant disputes, and other civil actions. They also serve as public defenders in municipal court and juvenile court.
Legislative Clinic - Students are assigned as interns to state legislators during the spring legislative session.
Media Law Clinic - Students, under the supervision of the clinic director, respond to questions presented by lawyers, policy-makers, publishers, and others concerned with media law issues.
Paul E. Wilson Defender Project - Students cousel and represent state and federal prisoners in appellate and post-conviction litigation in state and federal prisons.
Public Policy Clinic - Students in this clinic undertake policy studies in response to requests from public officials.
Tribal Judicial Support Clinic - Students provide research assistance in an array of projects ranging from tribal code development to drafting memoranda and orders.
Externships/Internships
Field placements are offered through five of our clinics. In the Criminal Prosecution Clinic students are assigned to work in various local prosecutors' offices, the state attorney general's office and offices of the United States Attorney. In addition to Lawrence, placements are available in Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka, Ottawa, and Lenexa. Field placements with the Externship clinic must be approved, but may vary from year to year. The Elder Law Externship places students in Kansas Legal Services field offices in Olathe, Topeka or Kansas City. Students in the Legislative clinic are placed with individual legislators in Topeka. Students in the Judicial Clerkship clinic are placed with trial judges in state and federal district courts, including bankruptcy courts and federal magistrate courts. Locations include Lawrence, Kansas City, Topeka, and Olathe.
Classes with a Public Service Component
The Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program is staffed on a volunteer, pro bono basis by students enrolled in the tax classes and supervised and guided by a faculty member, also a volunteer, who teaches the various tax classes offered.
Public Interest Journals
The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy ( www.law.ku.edu/journal/index.shtml).
Public Interest Career Assistance
Career Related Services:
- 1L Mentor Program includes attorneys practicing public interest law;
- Annual Legal Career Options Day includes attorneys practicing public interest law, such as attorneys with local, state and federal government agencies, prosecutors and public defenders, and several members of the judiciary;
- "Meet the Attorneys" Speaker Series sponsors at least five public interest-related panel discussions each year;
- Mock Interview program includes representatives of public interest law; and
- Office of Career Services authored a Public Interest Directory that focuses on local and regional opportunities.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
This type of program is under consideration.
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
None.
Graduate Student Funded:
None.
Other Funding Sources:
The Office of Career Services assists students in identifying and applying for various post-graduate fellowships and awards, including the Equal Justice Works fellowships, Public Citizen and others.
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
None.
Graduate Student Funded:
None.
Other Funding Sources:
Karen Nordheden and Michael J. Hoeflich Scholarship Fund and Hon. Kay Royce Scholarship Fund are examples of scholarship support provided to students with proven interest in public interest careers. The Kansas Bar Association awards an annual scholarship to students of promise in this area, as does the Rice Foundation, which provides significant scholarships funds for law students.
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) monies are distributed by the University of Kansas Student Senate. To be considered, requests for EOF funding must meet at least one of several criteria, including that the monies be awarded to students participating in public and community service programs.
Graduate Student Funded:
Equal Opportunity Fund scholarship is awarded to three students who volunteer their entire summer to work in public interest law or pro bono work.
Other Funding Sources:
The KU Law Public Interest Law Society (PILS) sponsors an annual Casino Night to raise money to fund summer stipends for students working for public interest organizations. In both 2004 and 2005, PILS raised over $2000 at the Casino Night.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Public Interest Law Casino Night- The KU Law Public Interest Law Society (PILS) sponsors an annual Casino Night to raise money to fund summer stipends for students working for public interest organizations. In both 2004 and 2005 PILS raised over $2000 at the Casino Night.
Student Public Interest Groups
None.
