Pro Bono Partnership Programs
Welcome
In support of the mission of President Greco's Renaissance Commission, the Law Student Division has created the Pro Bono Partnership Program. Public service is at the very heart of the legal profession. Due to the time constraints that a majority of today's lawyers face it is difficult for lawyers to take on pro bono clients. The Pro Bono Partnership Program is the Law Student Division's effort to make pro bono work more manageable for busy attorneys. Our program allows attorneys to partner with willing law students who can perform the timely tasks of researching issues, writing memos, and drafting pleadings among other things. Currently, the Division has implemented five pilot programs around the country. We will be using the pilots to create different models for the program that law schools nationwide can choose from or mold into their own program at their respective schools. The Pro Bono Partnership Program will be rolled out nationally at the Annual Meeting in Hawaii.
Pilot Schools
The Law Student Division, at its Fall 2005 Board of Governors Meeting, selected the following five schools to participate in the Pilot Pro-Bono Partnership Program:
Program Descriptions
Widener University School of Law Delaware
Under the management of Widener-Delaware's Director of Public Interest Resource Center, the law school has teamed with the Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS), which is the public service arm of the Delaware Bar Association, to link attorneys who are representing pro bono clients with law students who wish to assist them. The students are provided the opportunity to research legal issues, write memorandums, draft pleadings, interview witnesses, and assist attorneys with other time consuming tasks.
Oklahoma City University School of Law
Information to be released in Fall 2006.
George Washington University Law School
This school is in the creation phase of the pilot program and expect to roll the program out in Fall 2006.
Roger Williams University School of Law
This school is still in the planning phase of creating a “Pro Bono Collaborative Pilot Project.” Planners hope to recruit three large Rhode Island law firms with community organizations and the School of Law to provide pro bono services to underrepresented populations. This innovative three-way partnership approach to pro bono offers an exciting model for addressing unmet legal need in communities using the resources of law students and large law firms.
Each of the three law firms will take on a different pro bono project in partnership with student assistance. The three primary topics of emphasis planned for the pilot program include: 1) Special Education Advocacy, 2) Affordable Housing, and 3) "Street Law” for Parents and Kids.
Drake University School of Law
Information will be released in Fall 2006.
How School Are Managing Their Programs
Widener University School of Law Delaware
A
a database has been created containing the names and contact information of local attorneys that have taken and/or currently are representing pro bono clients. A student section has also been added to the database to monitor the students in the program. Attorneys send requests for assistance with specific projects, and subsequently a student from the program pool is given the assignment with a deadline for completion.
Students are recruited on campus through a review process. Student must submit their resume and transcripts and participated in an interview process before they are accepted into the program. Registration forms have been created for use in registering participants for the program. There are distinct forms for Student participants and Attorney participants. Also a brochure has been created as a marketing tool to advertise the program to both students and attorneys.
George Washington University Law School
A committee has been formed to gauge current interest, maintain momentum, and determine interest in the various tasks to be completed if the project is to be successful. The Committee must develop a process to screen incoming projects received from attorneys, develop student training and evaluation processes, and develop strategies for obtaining feedback at the end of an assignment. They are also considering long term maintenance issues such as support and trouble-shooting. In the forefront, a task force is being created to contact law firms in an effort to gain a better understanding for the current definition of pro bono, what needs to be changed in the community, and what community leaders should be convinced those changes are essential to public welfare.
