Regent University School of Law
Regent University
School of Law
1000 Regent University Drive
RH 247
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
www.regent.edu/law/
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Professor Kathleen McKeeProfessor, Advisor of PILAR
kathmck@regent.edu
(757) 226-7000
Professor Alice Curtis
aliccur@regent.edu
(757) 226-7000
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator
Description of Program
The Office of Law Career & Alumni Services in conjunction with the Virginia Bar Association encourages public service by students through recognizing their successful completion of an approved placement through the Making the Commitment Program. The Virginia Bar Association is challenging every law student in Virginia to make the commitment. The placement must be for a minimum of 35 hours per academic year. Students must complete both a proposal of work and supervisor agreement.
All students participating in the Making the Commitment Program are honored at a Public Interest Awards Reception held each fall; are given a certificate of appreciation signed by the dean of the law school; and are publicly recognized in front of family and peers at their commisioning ceremony as part of graduation.
Location of Program
The Office of Law Career & Alumni Services
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The Pro Bono Initiative will be supervised by the Law School's Office of Career and Alumni Services.
Funding
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) – VITA provides a base of law students willing to help others with their federal income tax return preparation over a three-month period. Participating students visit libraries, prisons, military bases and urban communities.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Awards/Recognition
Students who complete 35 hours of pro bono service will be recognized at commissioning, honored at a Public Interest Awards reception, and receive a Certificate of Completion signed by the Dean of the Law School.
Community Service
Students and faculty encourage one another to engage in community service consistent with the school's mission.
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Douglas H. Cook Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
757 226-4331
dougcoo@regent.edu
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
For futher information, see http://www.regent.edu/acad/schlaw/files/05ppmanual.pdf
Public Interest Centers
None
Public Interest Clinics
Family Mediation Clinic – The Family Mediation Clinic trains students as third-party neutrals to mediate family-related cases. Students help hurting parties arrive at agreements that are fair, satisfying, doable and durable. Finally, they help the parties explore reconciliation of their broken relationships. Litigation Clinic – The Litigation Clinic involves consumer issues, domestic relations, and administrative matters. Student-clinicians have direct responsibility for managing cases from initial interviews to conclusion of representation.
Externships/Internships
Two different courses are offered: one for legal aid and non-profit externs, the second for governmental and judicial externs. The subjects covered in these courses include ethics, case management, client interviewing, factual investigation and related topic.
Classes with a Public Service Component
Individual Income Tax– Students served in the Virginia Individual Tax Assistance Program (VITA).
Public Interest Journals
None
Public Interest Career Assistance
These services are included within the general Career Services Office.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
Available for students who meet policy requirements.
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
None
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
None
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
The Office of Career & Alumni Services receives $12,000 annually to distribute to students working during the summer in public interest law. Students must submit a formal application and are selected through a competitive process.
Graduate Student Funded:
Through PILAR (Public Interest Legal Advocates of Regent- Student Organization).
Other Funding Sources:
Regent Law School receives $9,000 annually from the Virginia Law Foundation annually to distribute to students working during the summer in public interest law. Students must submit a formal application and are selected through a competitive process.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Public Interest Auction – Each spring the student organization; Public Interest Legal Advocates of Regent conduct a public interest auction to raise funds to support students who perform public interest work during the summer. Each year the organization raises approximately $6,000 to be distributed.
Student Public Interest Groups
Public Interest Legal Advocates of Regent (PILAR)
