Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center
Nova Southeastern University
Shepard Broad Law Center
3305 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale-Davie, FL 33314
www.nsulaw.nova.edu
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Sharon Booth, Esq.Director of Public Interest Programs & Disability Services
boothsh@nsu.law.nova.edu
(954) 262-6126
Fax: (954) 262-3831
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with Coordinator
Description of Program
The Pro Bono Honor Program recognizes students who provide pro bono legal work for public service or government organizations while enrolled in law school. Students volunteering a minimum of 50 hours are awarded this graduation honor. Placements are secured by meeting with the program director and/or participating in Public Interest Law Day. The program is part of the Public Interest Law Center (PILC), which provides information, resources, and acknowledgement to students who are interested in serving the community through public interest law.http://www.nsulaw.nova.edu/career/pilc/probono.cfm
Location of Program
The Public Interest Law Center of the Career Development Office.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The Director of Public Interest Programs and Disability Services oversees the Pro Bono Honor Program.
Funding
The Pro Bono Honor Program is funded through the annual Career Development Office budget.
Secretarial assistance is available for faculty pro bono.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
There is no formal faculty pro bono policy, but pro bono work is taken into account for contract renewal, promotions, and compensation.
Awards/Recognition
Pro Bono students are awarded gold lanyards for their graduation gowns and certificates of achievement. A Pro Bono Honor Reception includes the recognized students, their families, employers, faculty and staff.Pro bono and fellowship accomplishments are listed separately in the graduation program and mentioned during Dean's graduation remarks. Pro bono students are awarded gold cord/lanyard to wear at graduation.
Community Service
Community Service projects are currently left to student groups.
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Sharon Booth, Esq.Director of Public Interest Programs & Disability Services
boothsh@nsu.law.nova.edu
(954) 262-6126
Fax: (954) 262-3831
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Public Interest Centers
The Public Interest Law Center: Housed in the Career Development Office, the PILS oversees the Pro Bono Honor Program, handles public interest career counseling and fellowships, and promotes public interest programming and issues.http://www.nsulaw.nova.edu/career/pilc/index.cfm
Public Interest Clinics
Alternative Dispute Resolution ClinicChildren and Families Clinic
Environmental Law Clinic
Externships/Internships
Criminal Justice (primarily State Attorney & Public Defender): local and out of townFamily Law (Legal Aid): local and out of town
Classes with a Public Service Component
Dependency Workshop - Works primarily with Guardian Ad Litem ProgramStreet Law Workshop
Public Interest Journals
Public Interest Career Assistance
Public Interest Career Counseling is provided by Sharon Booth, Esq., Director of Public Interest Programs and Disability Services.During Public Interest Day, which is held each February, approximately 50 non-profit, government and judicial organizations visit the law school to educate students about public interest law and recruit them for summer internships.
Lunch and Learn/Career Cafe Lecture Series, which is held every week during the academic year, includes topics related to public interest law.
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:
The Florida Bar Foundation provides an annual award to fund fellowships for approximately 10-20 students. Half of the students perform general public interest work (primarily at Legal Aid) and the other half participate in alternative dispute resolution. Students are also required to take a course and/or participate in the Pro Bono Honor Program as a pre/co-requisite.
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Public Service Summer Fellowship-The school awards five $1000 fellowships for students who are volunteering at government agencies.
Feinrider Summer Fellowship for International Human Rights-The school awards at least $1000 to one or more students who are volunteering in the area of international human rights.
http://www.nsulaw.nova.edu/career/pilc/fellowships.cfm
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Rebecca Knox Public Interest Law Summer Fellowship-Funded through proceeds from the annual Public Interest Law Society Auction, this fellowship provides stipends of at least $1500 to students who volunteer with Legal Aid or similar non-profit organizations.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Public Interest Law Day
During Public Interest Day, which is held each February, approximately 50 employers visit the law school to educate students about public interest law and recruit them for summer internships.
Lunch and Learn/Career Cafe Lecture Series
The series, which is held every Wednesday during the academic year, includes topics related to public interest law.
Student Public Interest Groups
Environmental Law SocietyPublic Interest Law Society
Student Animal Legal Defense Foundation
