Law students at schools across the country spent part of last semester working to help homeless people in their communities. The nationwide push to address issues related to homelessness came as part of the ABA Law Student Division’s annual Work-A-Day program, in which schools across the nation tackle a single public service issue.
Work-A-Day events are traditionally held in October, and this year several schools held on to that tradition.
The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law offered students a chance to participate in a simulation event so they could understand the challenges low-income families face.
The 49 students who attended were placed in “families” of four and challenged to pay bills, make loan payments, handle emergencies, and keep food on the table using less than $18,000 a year. Students participated in roundtable discussions after the simulation activity. Two law school professors also contributed by speaking about legal aid programs, poverty, and aging.
At the University of San Francisco School of Law, nearly 100 students gathered at two sessions to hear practicing lawyers speak about their work related to homelessness and housing discrimination in the Bay Area.
At the events, six public interest lawyers spoke about the work their organizations are doing to end homelessness. Students were able to ask the speakers about the public perception of homelessness, misunderstandings about homeless people, and reasons people become homeless.
St. Mary’s University School of Law focused on how poverty impacts children. The school hosted a panel of speakers, including a homeless person, a judge of a specialized court for homeless individuals, a representative from the mayor’s office who discussed the city’s initiatives on homelessness, and a law school professor who is involved with a homeless housing initiative in the area. Approximately 40 students attended the event and learned how they could be involved locally in efforts to help homeless people.
Students at Seattle University School of Law had three opportunities to participate in activities related to homelessness: a food drive, a speakers’ panel, and a volunteer opportunity.
For two weeks in October, law students donated canned foods and money in an effort to help the homeless. The donations were given to a local food bank.
In mid-October, 50 people attended a kick-off panel discussion where they heard from four speakers. The panelists, who included members of the Seattle legal community and a member of the Seattle clergy, spoke about the importance of service and its effect on the community. The following day, 80 volunteers participated in the law school’s Day of Service, spending the day volunteering at homeless shelters and food banks.
Each of these law schools received funds from the Law Student Division’s Grant Program. The Grant Program reimburses up to $500 for programs that provide professionalism and ethics training, promote diversity in the legal profession, and advance public interest and public service efforts in local communities. Information on the program and an application are available at www.abanet.org/lsd/grant.
Next school year’s Work-A-Day theme will be announced on the Law Student Division’s website at www.abanet.org/lsd/work-a-day. The site provides general information about Work-A-Day and includes an online form schools can use to report their Work-A-Day activities.
Information and training on next year’s Work-A-Day theme also will be available at the Annual Meeting from August 7–12 in New York City. A Work-A-Day Took Kit will also be available at the Annual Meeting training and online. •
Kristi Lemoine, a third-year student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, is Student Lawyer’s student editor.
