St. Thomas University School of Law
St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University School of Law
16400 N.W. 32nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33054
www.stu.edu/lawschool
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Anthony Musto
Director of Community Outreach & Pro Bono Services
305.623.2359
amusto@stu.edu
Category Type
Pro Bono Graduation Requirement. Each student must perform a minimum of 40 hours of uncompensated law-related work in the public interest to benefit those traditionally underserved by the Bar.
Description of Program
The Pro Bono Program is designed to give second- and third-year students legal experience under the supervision of lawyers in a variety of not-for-profit offices, government agencies and law firms. The objectives of the Program are to: 1) supplement the educational experience of students by developing a lasting commitment to public services; 2) enhance empowerment and access to the legal system for persons and communities who have been traditionally underserved by the bar, and 3) build a positive identity that strengthens admission, placement, and the overall standing of St. Thomas University School of Law in the South Florida community and nationally.
The Program is administered through the Career Services Office. It maintains information about the organizations and publishes a Pro Bono Student Manual with a directory to assist students in securing a variety of pre-approved placements and opportunities as well as the procedures and forms necessary to secure and propose new placement sites of their own choosing. The requirement can be met through one or more extended-service placements or through several small ones. All new sites must, however, be approved before the student can begin work or receive pro bono credit. The Government and Public Interest Job Fair, held annually in February, serves to bring local pro bono placement supervisors to campus so that students can meet and discuss pro bono opportunities with them.
Evaluation forms are in the Student Pro Bono Manual. Career Services staff meets with the supervisors in their offices periodically to discuss their needs, training procedures and other matters in order to better advise students.
Students are reminded periodically in newsletters and in notices to mailboxes that breaks and summers provide time to explore pro bono opportunities.
Location of Program
Office of Career Services. See http://www.stu.edu/Lawschool/careerservices/index.asp#Pro_Bono_P rogram
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The Pro Bono Coordinator is a full-time law school employee who spends approximately 30% of her time on Pro Bono Program administrative matters.
Posting of pro bono opportunities on the web, newsletter and bulletin boards is a student's job.
Funding
There is no separate pro bono budget. The Law School houses the VITA Tax Program and provides administrative support.
The School supports faculty pro bono service administratively.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
VITA -- Students assist in filling out tax forms for low-income persons of the community. The Tax Clinic professor supervises.
Process: New student pro bono group projects can be recognized by contacting the Dean of Students. New projects must be approved through the process described in the Student Pro Bono Manual to qualify for the graduation requirement.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Faculty are encouraged to be role models and have set for themselves a mandatory 20 hours-per-year pro bono service requirement.
Faculty supervise pro bono students volunteering in conjunction with their clinics and with externship placements.
Awards/Recognition
Pro Bono and Community Service Awards are given at graduation.
Faculty who have done outstanding pro bono service are recognized by the Dean.
Community Service
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Joan McDonald Beck 305 623-2351
Anthony Musto
Director of Community Outreach & Pro Bono Services
305.623.2359
amusto@stu.edu
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Public Interest Centers
Community Law Center
The Center, which opened in Fall 2002, provides legal services to low income individuals.
Human Rights Institute
The Institute focuses on immigration and human rights issues.
Public Interest Clinics
St. Thomas offers the following clinics:
- Tax Clinic (eight credit hours; US Tax Court, IRS)
- Immigration Clinic (eight credit hours; immigration judges, Immigration Advocacy Center)
- Family Law Clinic (eight credit hours; Florida Family Court & Domestic Violence Court)
- Bankruptcy Clinic (eight credit hours; US Bankruptcy Court)
- Field Placement Clinic (two semesters, eight credit hours, 3Ls only)
- VITA (Income Tax Clinic from January through April).
Externships/Internships
St. Thomas offers the following field placements in civil and criminal offices (two semesters, eight credit hours):
- State Attorney's Offices (Prosecutors) in 3 Counties
- Public Defender's Offices in 3 Counties
- Legal Aid Offices in 2 counties
- Judges' Offices (United States District Court and Florida State Courts)
- State Court Programs: Domestic Violence Court and Family Court
- Immigration: Federal Krome North Processing Center
Classes with a Public Service Component
Clinics and Field Experience Courses.
Public Interest Journals
Human Rights Institute - workshops and legal scholarship/writing opportunities.
Public Interest Career Assistance
Services include:
- Pro Bono Program Coordinator
- Government/Public Interest Job Fair (annually in February)
- Public Service Fellows IOTA Funds Program (spring) with annual pamphlet information
- Public Service Fellows Recognition Luncheon (fall)
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
St. Thomas administers John & June Mary Makdisi Loan Forgiveness Fund (established in 1999) and the Mr. & Mrs. Stanley G. Tate Loan Forgiveness Fund (established 2001). There are on-going efforts to develop additional funds for public interest loan repayment assistance.
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
The School funds fellowships in university and local government work.
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
St. Thomas students may be eligible for:
Dan Bradley Memorial Scholarship (two awarded annually)
Florida Lawyer's Legal Insurance Corporation (IOTA) Public Services Fellows (four or five awarded annually)
Florida Bar Foundation (paid academic year fellowships in public interest offices).
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Professional Opportunities Program
St. Thomas and law firm-funded stipends are awarded to first-year African-American law students to work with judges. Approximately 20-30 six-week stipends are awarded each summer.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
- Lunch & Learn Programs
- Approximately ten programs per semester include public interest opportunities.
- Government/Public Interest Job Fair Annual Event
- Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series (four each year).
Student Public Interest Groups
- Black Law Student Association (provide legal services with Dade County Legal Aid)
- Catholic Student Lawyers Guild (provide legal aid)
- Environmental Law Society
- Florida Association for Women Lawyers (provide support for Women in DistressGuardian Ad Litem program and middle school law education program)
- Gay & Lesbian Law Student Association
- Hispanic American Law Society (provide immigration legal aid )
- Mock Trial Team (provide high school mock trial coaching)
- National Jewish Law Student Association
- Phi Alpha Delta (provide elementary school law education projects)
- Tax Law Society -VITA (student run tax preparation program for low income persons).
