At every law school there are students and faculty engaged in non-legal volunteer work in the community. Many law schools have found ways to institutionalize this work, such that the students find it easy to volunteer and the community needs are addressed in a systematic manner. Students have created and maintained some of these programs; law school administrators and/or faculty members have implemented others.
In addition to law related opportunities, we have a range of community service projects. For example, students have worked with Habitat for Humanity, participate in the Susan G Komen Foundation Race for The Cure, and collect considerable donations for various local non-profits. Hackett Middle School Tutoring Program: Law students work with school teachers at the local junior high school. Members of the administrative staff, non-clinical faculty, and other students serve as supervisors.
Albany School District Mentoring Program: Law students mentor children attending public schools in the City of Albany under the supervision of the program administrators.
Each fall the Public Interest/Public Service Scholars and the Office of Public Interest organize the IMBY (In My Back Yard) public service day. IMBY is a volunteer public service project designed to engage new law students in public service projects in the D.C. community and to provide an opportunity for WCL students, faculty, and staff to give back to the local community. The event is the official kick-off of WCL's new student orientation with over 180 participants turning out each year to provide critical services to underserved individuals and institutions.
WCL students also organize an annual MLK Day of Service and Alternative Winter and Spring Break trips that send students to domestic or international areas in need of legal and community service assistance.
County Mapping Project. A few years ago, Buchanan County worked to create a computerized mapping system to show the location of all county roads and all county water, sewer and natural gas lines. There were over 2,000 unmapped parcels of land in the county. Law students were taught to examine and use public land records in order to determine the ownership, location and description of the unmapped parcels. Students worked with the County Treasurer's office, the Commissioner of Revenue's office, and the Clerk of the County Court's deed records and abstracts.
The Buchanan County Humane Society. ASL students provide assistance to the local Humane Society. The goals of this Humane Society are to initiate an aggressive and active spaying/neutering campaign to reduce the overall number of unwanted animals in the County, to facilitate improvement of the conditions at the County Animal Shelter, to make the Animal Shelter more accessible, to increase the number of shelter animals adopted annually and to provide vital animal education to the community.
Home repairs and improvements for low-income residents through Buchanan Neighbors United, a grassroots community organization. Work usually is performed between March and November with volunteers who come from other regions of the country and participate in cultural exchange activities during their one- or two-week stay in Grundy.
Halloween Carnival: Each year Phi Alpha Delta, ("PAD"), sponsors a Halloween Carnival for all of the children in the community. The Carnival provides a one-stop opportunity for children to go Trick-or-Treating, get candy and play various games to win prizes. Games at the Carnival include a football throw, a treasure chest hunt and a fishing game. In addition, the children may participate in a cupcake walk, corn-hole toss, bowling and duck cauldron. Approximately 200 children participate each year from as far away as Kentucky and West Virginia. Students helping with this event are required to dress in an age-appropriate costume and volunteer over 30 hours of their time to make the event a success.
The ASL 5K Memorial Walk/Run: The annual race is held to commemorate the lives of Tom Blackwell, Tony Sutin and Angela Dales and to build a stronger community through their memory. The race raises money for endowed scholarships at ASL.
Race weekend has become an anchor weekend on the spring calendar with several other campus activities scheduled around this extraordinary event including the Awards Banquet and the Barrister's Ball. Student organizers involved in this service project spend their time preparing for the almost 300 participants on race day.
There are several ongoing projects - such as "Canned Immunity" food drive (all who donate during the drive have immunity in class), literacy drives, mentoring programs with community groups, and Habitat for Humanity.
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The First Year Pro Bono Project focuses on non-legal community service through various organizations, such as Make A Wish Foundation, Senior Links, Camp Boggy Creek, and the Salvation Army. For the past three years, our annual Pro Bono Day events involved volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
Community service is started at Orientation with voluntary community service projects such as work for Habitat for Humanity and cleaning the river as part of the Orientation program. Student organizations, primarily the Student Bar Association and the Women's Legal Society, then organize opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. Specific institutionalized projects include:
The BC Law Students Association and various student organizations provide opportunities for community service throughout the year, including Grad Students Give Back Day.
Boston University: Boston University School of Law
Part of BU Law's first year orientation includes an optional community service day. Students sign up to do a variety of service projects in the Boston area.
Additionally, the Public Interest Project organizes community service projects.
Brooklyn Law School: Brooklyn Law School
Students participate annually in a variety of community service activities including:
A blood drive,
Race Judicata, a 5K race to help fund programs at the High School for Law and Justice,
A voter registration drive,
An auction to raise money for public interest fellowships,
A production of the Vagina Monologues to help fund a domestic violence shelter,
A toy drive for the children in that shelter,
A food drive,
A clothing drive, and
Others.
Each year many of our student organizations sponsor food and clothing drives, voter education campaigns, and other philanthropic and service projects.
Campbell Law students participate in community service projects and fundraisers to support local charities that are organized by student groups and the SBA Community Cares Committee. In addition, incoming first year students participate in a "1L Day of Service" to benefit the local community during orientation.
Recent examples of community service at Campbell Law School include:
Students participating in student organizations are expected to complete community service through those organizations in order to receive school funding for their group in the next school year.
The Mary Bethune Service Organization is dedicated to enriching the lives of the students at the local Mary Bethune Elementary School. Law students tutor fourth- and sixth-graders, conduct law day classes, organize recreational events, and participate in activities sponsored by the elementary school.
The Big Buddies program allows law students (big buddies) to act as mentors and tutors to elementary and junior high school children (little buddies) in urban Cleveland. The program is sponsored by the Student Bar Association, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland, and the Mary Bethune Elementary School. Each law student who joins the program is paired with a child. Once a week, the little buddies are bused to the law school, where they and their big buddies take part in a group activity for about an hour, then spend time on school work. Group activities are varied and have included kickball, arts and crafts projects, visits to museums, and bowling.
Community service is encouraged at CUA Law throughout a student's tenure here. An overview is available at http://www.law.edu/CommunityofService.cfm. Examples of school-wide activities include a Service Day during first-year orientation that places students on projects at various Brookland-area organizations, and an MLK Day of Service that places hundreds of volunteers from all of CUA's schools around the DC area. The law school offers an annual Faith in Action series that provides an opportunity for students to explore the connections between faith, justice and service with classmates, exchange ideas with guest participants, and participate in service initiatives in the local community. Additionally, every student organization must participate in one community service project during the school year in order to receive funding from the Student Bar Association.
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The Charleston School of Law has over 35 student organizations, many of which participate in community service projects.
All Charlotte Law students are required to engage in at least 10 hours of non-legal community service prior to graduation. Pro bono service may count towards this requirement. An annual Community Service Award is presented to a Charlotte Law student for exceptional work in the community.
Experiential Education Department
Charlotte School of Law
City University of New York: CUNY School of Law
Students engage in various non legal community service activities such as blood drives, clothing collections for victims of natural disasters.
The Monthly Group Projects include:
Community service is led by student groups, in conjunction with the Student Services office and the Center for Public Interest Law. There is a regularized process and funding is given to support this work through departments and student fees. Specific projects include:
Sample projects:
Women's Law Coalition: Organized a school supply drive, collecting notebooks, pens, highlighters, markers and other supplies which were then donated to the Counseling for School Success Program, a school for emotionally disturbed elementary through high school students in Ithaca.
Phi Alphi Phi: Organized a law school blood drive.
LAMBDA law students: Distributed free Safer Sex Valentines on February 14 (included condoms).
Cornell Law School Veterans Society and Phi Alpha Delta: Collected donations for care packages that were sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Law School Relay for Life Team: Several law students participated in this 24 hour non-stop walking relay that raised funds for the American Cancer Society.
The Office of Student Services plans community service opportunities for the law students including a Habitat for Humanity Build, a community service project as part of the first year orientation program, and other opportunities for service throughout the year. Student run organizations offer a variety of service projects including Toys for Tots, Angel Tree, and participation in the University wide Project Homeless Connect.
1L Service Day
Held directly after Orientation, the 1L Service Day gives incoming students the chance to "hit the ground running"when it comes to service at DePaul while raising awareness of social justice issues. Students volunteer for the day at a variety of sites throughout the city, including schools, parks, homeless shelters, and community centers. College of Law staff, faculty, and students serve as site leaders for this service day.
Donate-a-Day Program
Students are provided with one-time volunteer opportunities that support local non-profit organizations or schools. Each volunteer event - which typically lasts 4 to 6 hours - allows students to gather and get to know one another in a relaxed social setting while working with underserved or at-risk individuals or groups or providing much-needed labor for building or beautification projects.
Service Immersion Trips
To promote an understanding of the local and regional challenges that exist outside of Chicago, the College of Law offers two service immersion trips. These trips provide DePaul law students a unique opportunity to view social justice issues from a new perspective.
New Orleans Service Trip
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in January 2006, a group of committed law students spent a week in New Orleans engaging in physical labor to help clean-up neighborhoods and homes, attending meetings on plans to rebuild the community and supporting the outreach of various social justice agencies. DePaul students, in collaboration with DePaul University Ministry, have returned to New Orleans every year since as they continue to learn about and engage with the people of New Orleans. Today, our work still involves home rebuilding but has expanded to include outreach and services to the homeless, as well as meetings with legal professionals and civic leaders in the community.
Washington D.C. Service Trip
Since 2010, DePaul law students, with the support of University Ministry, have traveled to Washington D.C. for a week over Winter Break to learn about the realities of homelessness in America's capitol. During our time in the District, students visit with public interest attorneys, social justice lobbyists and educators to learn about policy and advocacy efforts on behalf of those on the margins. The week also involves significant direct service as students work, serve and stay in a homeless shelter. Tours at significant sites such as the Supreme Court, U.S. Capitol Building and the National Mall are also part of this immersive experience.
Just Us Girls Conference
Sponsored by the Schiller Ducanto & Fleck Family Law Center, the Just Us Girls Conferenceworks with over 500 at-risk teenage girls, ages 12-18. The conference, which is held at the College of Law, offers a full day of workshops led by community leaders, psychologists, legal professionals, and school personnel. The workshops focus on social and legal issues that the girls and their families face. DePaul law students help organize and run the event, interact with the girls, and participate in workshops.
Chiapas Human Rights Practicum
The Chiapas Human Rights Practicum allows students to travel to Chiapas, Mexico for ten days to meet with the major human rights and indigenous organizations in the community. Students stay primarily in San Cristobal where local human rights lawyers, activists and community leaders teach students about the local legal and political situation. Students will also spend time in the countryside, visiting communities where human rights workers are located. In the past, the group has visited Oventic which is one of the Zapatista centers (caracoles) and the village of Acteal, many of whose inhabitants were massacred by paramilitaries in 1997. Prior to departure, students must participate in a series of pre-trip orientation meetings scheduled for week-day afternoons. Students are eligible to receive two credit hours for the practicum. Spanish-speaking students are eligible for stipends to work the entire summer in a human rights office.
The Christian Legal Society sponsors various community service activities, including a mitten tree in December and serving meals at a local homeless shelter.
The Public Service Scholars, SBA, and the NAACPannually host the Halloween Hoops Shoot Out Party for between 200 - 275 inner city children.
Reggie's Sleepout raises homelessness awareness and money in support of Iowa Homeless Youth Centers.
Animal Legal Defense Fund raises funds to support animal defense causes.
SBA and the Public Interest Law Association host an annual fundraiser to support summer scholarships for students working in public service positions.
Public Interest Law Association holds Court to Court 5K fundraiser for Iowa Legal Aid.
International Law Society raised funds for the Kigali Public Library, the first public library in Rwanda. They also raise funds for the James Albert Foundation, benefitting refugees in Belize.
Drake Law Women holds Raffle for a Reason to raise money for Children and Families of Iowa.
Community Service is encouraged, but does not count towards the 50 hour pro bono service requirement.
The Duke Bar Association Community Service Board provides numerous service opportunities for students at Duke Law School. Through facilitation of individual service projects and planning of group community service events, the Service Board encourages students to give back to the local community in Durham, N.C.
One of its main activities is Dedicated to Durham – This bi-annual project mobilizes students and faculty to do community service projects in the local community during special days arranged during fall orientation and in the spring. Other activities include Faculty Fridays, in which students volunteer with a designated faculty member each week, and Red Cross Blood Drives at the Law School.
Community outreach projects are made available through the Pro Bono program. The SBA hosts Blood Drives, food and clothing drives, and joins community efforts such as walk-a-thons and days of service on behalf of the United Way. Each year, the school sponsors "Elon Reaches Out", a Day of Service which sends volunteers to various agencies/sites for service projects. Other projects featured on an ongoing basis include: Afterschool Care Project – students volunteer to work with children in first through eighth grades after school as academic tutors or mentors; collecting boxes of supplies for the troops, building Habitat houses, conducting breast cancer awareness days, sponsoring runs to fund brain cancer research, adopting families to provide gifts during the holidays, etc..
In addition, we are dedicated to building service and support programs in conjunction with our legal advocacy programs to best meet the needs of the community.
The Student Bar Association sponsors annually the collection of holiday gifts for area homeless children.
Black Law Students Association sponsors an annual blood drive in February as part of Black History Month.
Legal Association for Women Students sponsors an annual fundraiser to benefit those in need.
Each year, the students, faculty, and staff may participate in at least one Public Service Day. These projects focus on service to the community and fellowship among the law school family. Additionally, each student organization may adopt a service project for the year. Upper class students participate in a teen court initiative in which they act as prosecutors or defense counsel for teenaged offenders. Students at all levels participate in a variety of pro bono volunteer partnership opportunities with community groups and legal service providers. Students may also create alternative projects as the law school seeks to expand its community service opportunities.
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The pro bono program promotes student involvement in both legal and non-legal work in the community. Each student group must complete at least thirty hours of community service each year.
On-going community service projects include student involvement at multiple agencies in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, including Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., Catholic Charities Legal Services, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Legal Aid of Broward County, Church World Service, Put Something Back, The Self-Help Project of the 11th Circuit Court, the Public Defender's Office of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Human Services Coalition, and Lawyers for Literacy.
While there is no separate Community Service requirement, several of our student organizations are actively involved in promoting community service events and activities throughout the academic year. These organizations include the Student Bar Association (SBA), Public Interest Law Students Association (PILSA), and Black Law Students Association (BLSA). Both SBA and BLSA have been nationally recognized for their community service programming.
Fordham Law Community Service Project (CSP) The CSP gives Fordham Law students the opportunity to volunteer their time and talents at organizations in the New York City community in a non-legal capacity. Programs in which students can gain valuable experience include: teaching and tutoring children and adults; blood drives, clothing drives, food drives and book drives; soup kitchens, homeless shelters, hospitals and nursing homes; organizing annual volunteer fairs at the school to publicize volunteer opportunities.
Habitat for Humanity at Fordham Law School (HFH) When HFH became an official campus chapter of HFH International, HFH left CSP (above) to become an independent student organization in the PIRC. Every year there are at least four weekend trips to work with an HFH affiliate in New York City or the tri-state area and a week-long trip during the spring break. Students perform actual construction work including carpentry, dry-wall installation, painting and roofing, under the supervision of volunteer skilled tradespeople.
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Within the Student Bar Association (SBA), a student serves as director of community service projects. Also, the Equal Justice Foundation student chapter historically has engaged in community service projects.
During the Fall orientation session for incoming first-year students, the SBA organizes events through which the new students can perform community service activities. Moreover, the SBA organizes similar events for all interested students throughout the school year, often on Saturdays.
Georgetown University: Georgetown University Law Center
Beginning with an Orientation Service Project before school even begins, Georgetown Law affords law students many opportunities to engage in community service throughout their tenure here.
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Canned Immunity: Phi Delta Phi presented Canned Immunity, a food drive and fundraiser for the San Francisco Food Bank. Students brought canned goods or cash to exchange for tickets, and used the tickets for immunity from questions from their professors. Each ticket gave a student immunity from one question. Professors could also buy tickets to trump students' immunity. All proceeds from ticket sales went towards buying additional food for the San Francisco Food Bank.
ACLU Book Drive: The ACLU Student Chapter collected book donations for the Prisoners Literature Project's Books Through Bars program. Through its affiliation with Bound Together Books, the Prisoners Literature Project collects book, stamp and envelope donations for those inside. As part of its Critical Eye on the Criminal Justice System series, the ACLU Student Chapter encouraged the GGU community to donate to this cause.
Food From The Bar: Sponsored by the Bar Association of San Francisco, Food from the Bar is the legal community's largest annual food and fund-raising drive and supports the San Francisco Food Bank. Students helped by donating canned foods to the collection barrels in the 2nd and 3rd floor lobbies and in the SBA Lounge.
Holiday Wish List Event: SBA solicited sponsors, donors, and supporters for a Holiday Wish List Event benefiting underprivileged children in San Francisco through a non-profit after school and summer program called "Up On Top" (http://www.upontop.org/). Up On Top's mission is to offer hope, stability, and fun to children of low-income families in San Francisco, preparing them to be successful in school and in life. Students supported this event by donating money, and sponsoring children.
Japan Relief Fundraiser: SBA and APALSA hosted a relief effort for the victims of the tsunami and earthquakes in Japan. They raised over $6,000.
Orientation Service Project: Each year, Golden Gate University School of Law hosts an Orientation Service Project for entering first-year students. Last year, the school hosted an environmental restoration program that involved spending the morning with the Presidio Trust gardening staff helping to restore native plant life in the Presidio National Park.
Gonzaga Law students are required to complete 30 hours of public service before graduation. Public service is broadly interpreted to include traditional legal pro bono work as well as a range of volunteer charitable and community work. Service hours used to fulfill the public service requirement must be uncompensated and must not be completed for academic credit or monetary value. Students are responsible for selecting their public service activity and may work with the law student Public Service Liaison, with the University's Service Learning website, or the University's Center for Community Action and Service Learning to identify volunteer opportunities.
Springfest Volunteer Day: a day-long opportunity, organized by various student groups, for anyone in the Harvard community to participate in volunteer projects in local communities.
A number of our student groups have annual community service projects such as toy, clothings, and food drives at the holidays.
The following are some examples of the many community service projects our students are engaged in:
Most HUSL student organizations have a community service chair and encourage members to engage in volunteer work. Examples range from mentoring programs to food drives to clean up efforts at local parks and public schools.
Community service is encouraged through the Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC). PIRC was created to help connect students interested in volunteer or career opportunities with public interest groups or agencies in need of their services. Primarily, the Center acts as a clearinghouse for short and long-term public service law opportunities as well as non-law related projects, with the realization that many students cannot fully commit themselves to a career in public interest upon graduation. Therefore, enabling students to benefit from doing pro bono work while in law school is a Center priority.
In addition, at Orientation, first year law students are invited to participate in a community service day during which they participate in community service projects throughout the Chicago community.
Chicago-Kent is also working on creating a yearly service project in which students and alumni come together to serve the community for a day of service. The event also includes a keynote speaker with significant community service and/or pro bono work experience.
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Students are encouraged to participate in community service by allowing such time to count towards their pro bono credit hours. However, in order to receive pro bono recognition, at least 50% of their total volunteer hours must be legal work that provides assistance to persons of limited means or with a non-profit legal services provider.
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The Community Service Program, created in 2001, offers students the opportunity to volunteer with community organizations in a non-law related capacity. Volunteer opportunities are advertised through a pro bono and public interest email list, through individual student meetings, and through annual panels (bringing organizations on campus to meet students).
The requirements of the Community Service Honors Program are identical to the Pro Bono Honors Program, except there is no requirement that the work completed be legal in nature. Students who contribute 30 or more hours of community service work in a year are recognized with a certificate at the annual Pro Bono & Community Service Honors Lunch, a notation on their transcripts, and recognition in the graduation program.
Students also assist with Lewis & Clark's two diversity pipeline programs:
Through a partnership between the Virginia Bar Association and Liberty University School of Law, all students are encouraged to perform at least 35 hours of community or pro bono service, and all faculty and administration are encouraged to perform at least 50 hours of community or pro bono service during a 12 month time period.
With administrative support from the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) and the Office of Student Affairs, law students donate their time to non-profit organizations such as the Miller Home of Lynchburg (for girls who are not able to live in their own homes) and Daily Bread (for indigent children and adults in Lynchburg).
Students also hosted the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) during the Springs of 2009 and 2010, where they assisted low-income and elderly citizens from the community by preparing and filing income tax reports. They intend to host this program annually.
The Public Interest Law Society currently works with the St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity and Everybody Reads. PILS also helped place students in Hurricane relief projects, including sending students to Bay St. Louis to work with the Student Hurricane Network. The committee plans to send more students to Student Hurricane Network projects in the coming year.
Furthermore, the Student Bar Association sponsors an Angel Tree annually before Christmas, where students, faculty and staff can choose children in need of Christmas gifts. Both the Student Bar Association and the Black Law Student Association sponsor a canned food drive each year.
Faculty and students work together to create community projects including the donation of cellular phones, programmed to dial 9-1-1 and give them to domestic violence shelters/victims, as well as the food drives which are given twice a year during which time professors give students "passes" if they bring in food to be donated.
Institutionalized community service events include:
Hunger Week - Student groups organize donation drives for various charities.
Unity & Diversity Week - Student groups organize donation drives for various charities and schedule speakers/programs about public service topics.
MLK Celebration Service Event
Public Interest Law Service Auction - fundraiser
Student organization leaders arrange group community service activities. Regular projects include: Christmas in October, where students revitalize homes for the elderly; food and clothing projects for the homeless; and Christmas and Thanksgiving donation drives of food, gifts, clothing for indigent people.
Marquette University: Marquette University Law School
Marquette University has an extensive program of community service and has been nationally recognized for its commitment to community service and service learning. The Law School maintains a relationship with the Office of Community Service, University Ministry, the Office of Mission and Identity, and the Service-Learning program at the University Level. Marquette Law School also maintains a relationship with the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee and encourages its law students to become involved in community service projects during their time at Marquette.
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Adopt a Highway, Monthly, Student Bar Association (SBA)
Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA)
They will be selling candy bars and chocolate and all proceeds will go to the Red Cross to benefit the hurricane victims.
The Environmental Law Society, Michigan State Law Review, & Journal of Medicine & Law will be collecting cash donations for the Hurricane Relief efforts of the American Red Cross.
Business Law Society (BLS) Hurricane Katrina Red Cross Fundraiser
The Business Law Society will be selling Mardi Gras beads in the lobby of the law school. Those students that purchase 3 strands of beads or more will be able to pass if participating professors call on them on Wednesday! The beads will be 1 strand for $2 or 3 for $5!All of the proceeds will be onated to the Red Cross to help the many victims of Hurricane Katrina!
The Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, will host a bake sale all day Thursday in the lobby. The proceeds and any donations will go to help the companion and farm animals who are affected by hurricane Katrina.
Bring the Music Back: Law School Fundraising Competition for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Michigan State University-College of Law has been entered in a fundraising competition against law schools from across the country.
Women's Law Caucus is Collecting Dresses for Charity
The Women's Law Caucus will be collecting gently used formal dresses and accessories for participants in the Miss Cass Pageant. This pageant is put on by Cass Community Social Services for developmentally disabled adults. CCSS is a non profit social services organization in Detroit, MI.
The Business Law Society, will be participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk on October 15. Registration will begin at 7:30am at the Lansing State Capitol and the walk will begin at 9:30am.
The Student Bar Association (SBA) is collecting items for the annual Barrister's Ball Charity Raffle.
The Society for Mental Health Law, will be selling Silver Ribbons in the law school lobby to raise funds.
The International Law Society, will be raising money for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF on Halloween.
Student Bar Association, Harvest Week
All donations and proceeds will be given to Volunteers of America and Cristo Rey Community Center. Help us give back to the community! Can A Professor! Buy a can for $1 in the lobby, or bring in your own. The purpose of this event is to bring a can or dry good to class, and participating professors will give you a pass on a question for that day. The more cans you bring, the more passes you get!
Hispanic Law Society (HLS)
The Adopt-A-Family Program matches needy families with individual and/or corporate sponsors who adopt them for the holidays, providing new clothes, toys, a fruit basket, and even a wonderful Christmas dinner to those who otherwise wouldn't be able to celebrate due to their financial hardships. This year, HLS has adopted two needy families in the Lansing area to provide a memorable Christmas for both the parents and their children.
Community service projects are sponsored by student groups and encouraged by administrators/faculty.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law: Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Many of the Hamline Law School student groups regularly engage in community service projects, such as clothing drives, Big Sister/Little Sister mentoring, etc.
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Annual participation in New York Cares Day,sponsored by the Student Bar Association and the Campus Advocates.
Black Law Students Association Outreach program for students in New York City high schools.
Assorted public interest activitiessponsored by the Public Interest Coalition, Black Law Students Association, Civil Liberties Union, Domestic Violence Project, Jewish Law Students Association, Immigration Law Students Association, Legal Association for Women, the Republican Law Student Association, Phi Alpha Delta, Media, Entertainment and Sports Law Association, Asian American Law Students Association, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, Stonewall Law Students Association, Law Students for Children and Families, Italian Law Students Association, Unemployment Action Center, Campus Advocates, and the Student Bar Association.
New York University: New York University School of Law
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A law school community service project is usually a part of orientation activities. In Fall 2004, law students participated in a Habitat for Humanity home-building project.
Legal Food Frenzy - Northeastern University School of Law participates in the 1st Annual Massachusetts "Legal Food Frenzy"to raise food and funds for the Greater Boston Food Bank, the largest hunger relief organization in New England, to benefit hungry families in Massachusetts. The "Frenzy"is a benevolent yet spirited competition within the legal community, modeled after a successful program which began in Virginia. Law firms, law schools and other legal organizations sign up to compete to see which group can raise the most funds and collect the most food for distribution to food pantries and food assistance programs throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
Special Education Surrogate Parent Program (SESP): SESP is a volunteer organization that serves children in state custody with special education needs who have no parent or guardian to represent them. The children in the SESP program are in a variety of settings, including foster homes, group homes, residential schools, shelters or hospitals. Their needs range from mild to severe. Volunteers attend a mandatory training session on the special education process, attend workshops on a variety of special education-related topics, and receive ongoing support from case coordinators. A volunteer acts on behalf of a child by having all the rights and authority of a parent in matters of special education without the financial responsibility. This includes the right to meet with and observe the child at school; review school records and progress reports, attend school meetings concerning the child; approve of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and monitor the child's services and educational placements. Student volunteers are generally assigned one child at a time and spend approximately 10-20 hours per year on each child.
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All entering IL students collectively engage in a community service project during their introductory week of law school. In addition, several Chase student organizations sponsor food and toy drives and participate in university-wide service projects during the school year.
Orientation Day of Service - every orientation, incoming students dedicate a day to community service. Each year, the projects vary but have included volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Animal Care and Control, Lake Michigan Federation, and YMCA.
Talcott Adopt-A-School Program - throughout the year, students volunteer at our "adopted" school in a weekly reading program, pen pal program and provide other assistance as needed.
Cabrini Green Tutoring Program - each week, students volunteer to mentor and tutor children through the Chicago Youth Programs.
MLK Day Service Celebration - our annual Martin Luther King celebration includes community service projects.
Holy Angels Adopt-A-Class Program – student volunteers teach classes once a month on a wide range of academic topics and also organize field trips at a low-income school on the Southside of Chicago.
Tax Assistance Program - each tax season, students assist low-income clients prepare tax returns.
Alternative Spring Break - for the past two years, over thirty students spent their spring breaks helping with the rebuilding efforts in Louisiana.
A. Student Bar Association, Community Service Division's, Annual & Seasonal Programs -
B. Women's Legal Forum Annual Program -
Walk for St. Margaret's House: raise money to improve the lives of women and children and assist in providing their immediate needs.
B. School-wide Events Annual and Seasonal Programs -
Community Service opportunities are made available through various student organizations.
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Each year Moritz student groups perform hundreds of hours of community service in schools, by helping citizens complete tax forms, by raising and donating money to help victims of disasters in the US and abroad, and a variety of other service projects. To see a listing of our numerous and active student groups go to: http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/students/groups.php
Oklahoma City University: Oklahoma City University School of Law
Integris Hospital/Oklahoma City Public Schools Mentoring Project—The Public Interest Law Group coordinates this project that pairs law students and faculty and staff with an elementary school student to help with the younger student's academic and social skills and to provide guidance and role modeling to the student.
Habitat for Humanity—Various student organizations, as well as the first-year torts classes, team up to sponsor this community building project.
Various Service Projects—Student organizations sponsor community service projects on a regular basis, including food and clothing drives for local social service organizations, sponsorships and teams for Race for the Cure, AIDS Walk, and Relay for Life.
Pepperdine University: Odell McConnell Law Center
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Students and faculty encourage one another to engage in community service consistent with the school's mission.
Roger Williams University: School of Law
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During the ABA's Celebrate Pro Bono Week, the law school organizes a series of "Community Engagement Placements" that allows students to engage in community service opportunities within Newark.
Students initiate community service projects and the law school provides support. Annually, BLSA sponsors a tutoring project at a local school; the ABA/LSD chapter sponsors a community service day; LLSA sponsors a Safe Halloween party; the SBA has an Easter Egg Hunt; and APIL has a Habitat for Humanity type project.
Community Service projects are promoted by the Dean's Office, Career Services, the Public Interest Law Group and Student Bar Association. Regular projects include:
Saint Mary’s University of San Antonio: Saint Mary’s University of San Antonio School of Law
The Program offers a data bank of community services opportunities in the city. Campus Ministry also coordinates community service projects.
Saint Thomas University: Saint Thomas University School of Law (FL)
The Pro Bono Program encourages law students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in community service projects.
Samford University: Cumberland School of Law
Cumberland Community Service Organization – The mission of Cumberland's Community Service Organization is to promote, encourage and complete community service projects while providing students with a chance to fulfill their obligations to continuously improve society and their community as future legal professionals. Past community service projects included blood drives with the Red Cross, a winter clothes drive, Easter egg hunts for underprivileged children, and can drives for local food banks. CSO believes that participation in the organization allows students to use their God-given talents to give back to our community.
The Student Bar Association (SBA) has a Community Service Committee which focuses on providing community service opportunities for all students. Santa Clara Law has over 35 Law Student Organizations and it is a requirement for each organization to offer/participate in some form of community service. A representative from each club serves on the SBA Community Service Committee. Recent community service activities include the Susan G. Komen Walk for a cure, Community Service Fair, letter writing campaign, serving meals on Thanksgiving, food, clothing, toiletry, and toy drives, beach clean-up, mentorship programs with high school students, and foreclosure clinics.
Seattle University: Seattle University School of Law
While the Law School does not formally sponsor on-going Community Service programs, student organizations are often very involved in the local community. For more information regarding these organizations and their events, please visit http://www.law.seattleu.edu/studentorganizations/descriptions
Seton Hall University: Seton Hall University School of Law
Two student groups are almost exclusively committed to performing community service. The Student Outreach Society and the Saint Thomas More Society volunteer in local soup kitchens, build urban homes for Habitat for Humanity, run food and clothing drives for shelters, and perform other wonderful services for the local community.
In addition, nearly every student organization engages in community service. For example, the International Law Society raises funds for an international economic development non-profit through creative means such as a bowling night and the Womens' Law Forum runs suit drives for low income women entering new careers.
Assistant Dean Gena Lewis Singleton has as a significant portion of her responsibilities, the development of community service activities and special events. In that capacity she cooperates with business, civic, and other organizations to develop curricula to meet the needs and interests of South Texas College of Law Students and the community. Currently enrolled law students work in these projects, many of which involve outreach to historically under represented segments of the legal profession. A sample of recent community service activities include:
Annual Community Outreach Program - In a collaborative effort with area universities, the Law School hosts two hundred students in a program designed to increase the skills, knowledge and motivation of first and second year college students. The program began in the Spring 1995 and recently has expanded to include High School students as well.
Annual Communities In Schools Houston - Sponsoring a summer Legal Internship Law School Education Day.
Sponsorship of High School Pre-Law Club
Seventh Annual Upward Bound Program - Established in 1965, this program is aimed at ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders who are tutored, counseled, and exposed to different cultural events in preparation for entering college. While at the Law School, these high school students learned test taking strategies for the SAT-ACT, talked with college advisors, learned to apply for financial aid, and worked to hone their writing and oral communication skills. The goal of the program is to assist High School students who are working to become the first in their families to graduate from a four-year college.
In addition to these activities, other collaborative school-sponsored volunteer activities have included:
Partners in Youth Responsibility Volunteer Mediation-Mentor Project - A collaborative project of the Harris County Department of Education and the Law School, together with several non-profit organizations; the purpose of the volunteer mediator-mentor project was to demonstrate how specially trained volunteers from corporate and professional fields can help courts, schools, and youth facilities reduce the incidents of youth violence and other unproductive behavior. In a one-year pilot project, volunteers were taught how to use responsible dispute resolution protocols; they then worked with at-risk youth and their families to communicate more effectively and to resolve their disputes in a peaceful manner. Law school faculty and students served together in teams with members of the community.
"Adopt a Beach" weekend cleaning project or the Habitat for Humanity building weekend illustrates two smaller projects undertaken during the year by various student organizations. Similarly, the South Texas College of Law Student Bar Association hosts the Annual Food Drive, which has consistently placed the Law School the largest single provider to the Houston Food Bank.
The Student Bar Association and various other student organizations select community service projects each year.
Southern Methodist University: Dedman School of Law
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Public Interest Law Committee - The Public Interest Law Committee coordinates and sponsors the annual Public Interest Law Week which includes a variety of events such as: Keynote Speaker; Practitioner's Career Panel; Public Interest Employer Fair; Silent and Live Auction; Bake Sale; and Basketball Tournament to raise money for summer public interest law grants.
Student Bar Association Community Affairs- The SBA Community Affairs coordinates many community service and outreach programs. Southwestern has adopted Hoover Street Elementary School for over 20 years. Southwestern's outreach efforts at Hoover are designed to help youth develop a better understanding of the legal system, learn a sense of responsibility, and to encourage them to consider careers in the legal profession. Southwestern hosts a 'Mock Trial Program' for the fifth graders on our campus, and our students conduct an Alternative Dispute Resolution activity involving the 'Three Little Pigs' with the third graders at Hoover. The SBA along with other student groups have projects that include collecting Christmas presents, back to school items, as well as food and clothing drives to help the Hoover students and their families. The SBA is expanding their outreach to include other schools in our community.
Student Bar Association Minority Affairs - The SBA Minority Affairs organizes activities and programs that enhance the experience of a diverse student body. In the past, they have hosted conferences, cultural food fairs and diversity events.
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The Office of Student Life works with faculty, administration, student organizations and the local community to provide a wide range of community service activities. Annual events include beach and reef cleanups, BLSA youth day, Homestead exemption programs, Fun in the Sun Day, Salute the Troops, and ABA/LSD Habitat for Humanity.
On October 22, 2009, Stetson University College of Law held its inaugural Legal Community in Action Day. Students at all academic levels were required to complete professionalism programming. First-year students were required to complete 2-4 hours of pro bono. On just that day, students completed over 1,400 hours of service at more than 80 different local organizations.
Citizen Schools' 8th Grade Writing Academy Program - Suffolk University Law School is the first law school in the nation to partner with Citizen Schools to offer community service opportunities for Suffolk Law students, faculty and administrators to serve as writing coaches for inner city middle school children. Citizen Schools is a non-profit, award-winning organization that started in Boston and is now national. Several large Boston law firms including Bingham McCutchen LLP, Bromberg & Sunstein, LLP, Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, Foley Hoag LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C., Ropes & Gray LLP, and Goodwin Procter LLP, as well as the MA Attorney General's Office participate in the program. By partnering with Citizen Schools, Suffolk links law students to this wonderful community service opportunity while simultaneously providing them the chance to meet and network with attorneys in prestigious Boston law firms and the Attorney General's Office.
Several student organizations also host community service events each year, including:
National Women's Law Student Association– Annual Breast Cancer Fundraiser ("Denim Day")
Phi Alpha Delta – Annual Welcome Baby Collection Drive
Phi Delta Phi – Annual Fall & Spring Canned Food Drives
Student Bar Association – Annual Toys for Tots Collection
Annual community service activities include:
Syracuse University: College of Law
Community outreach projects are made available through the Pro Bono program. The College of Law hosts Blood Drives, food and clothing drives, and joins community efforts throughout the Syracuse metropolitan area. The College of Law has a close relationship with various local agencies and frequently notifies students of upcoming community service opportunities.
Elverson Middle School Mentor Project pairs law students with at-risk middle school boys and girls, who are identified by school personal as students who would be responsive to mentoring. Activities are conducted in large groups (basketball games, football games) and with individual students.
The Student Bar Association funds students' non-law related community service projects, including:
A wide variety of community projects are undertaken by students each year including a canned food drive and teddy bear drive. The Canned Food Drive and Teddy Bear Immunity projects, organized by our local chapter of Phi Delta Phi, enables the law school to donate canned goods to the needy and to place teddy bears into the hands of the Fort Worth Police Officers' Association, which, in turn, use the teddy bears to calm small children who have witnessed or been involved in violent crime. In both programs, students bring cans of food or teddy bears to class and, if called on, buy a pass by contributing cans or teddy bears.
The Student Bar Association instituted a relationship with the local Red Cross where students help raise money, collect food, and volunteer as needed. In addition, drives are undertaken to support the local domestic violence shelter. Students creatively design new initiatives each year to serve the community.
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Each semester, Texas Tech Law hosts one service day where students, faculty, staff, family and friends gather to help a local organization. Past service days have included cooking breakfast at the Ronald McDonald House and volunteering at the local food bank.
Community service is primarily left to the student groups. Most student groups plan community service activities throughout the year. For more than 15 years, students at the law school have volunteered to staff the pro bono clinics operating through the Equal Justice Volunteer Program of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (formerly Private Attorney Involvement Program of West Texas Legal Services). Students conduct the intake interviews at pro bono clinics and also regularly assist the volunteer lawyers on cases that arise out of the clinics.
There are numerous other volunteer service activities performed by student organizations and individual students. Students regularly volunteer for no money or credit at the offices of Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and Legal Aid Society of Lubbock. Many students are CASA volunteers; several are VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) volunteers; many others volunteer at Women's Protective Services, Rape Crisis Center, Contact Lubbock, Inc. Organizations such as Hispanic Law Students Association, Black Law Students Association, Women's Caucus, Christian Legal Society, Estate Law Society and the legal fraternities regularly do volunteer service projects.
Thomas Jefferson School of Law: Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Student groups take the lead on community service projects. Annual projects include blood, toy and food drives and beach clean-up.
Community service opportunities are plentiful and have been described and identified in other categories.
ACLU student chapter staffs a hotline and does research for the Suffolk Chapter of ACLU.
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Akron Law student groups often work with faculty advisors and administrators to organize community service activities. Faculty, students, and administrators participate in projects such as Habitat for Humanity, animal shelters, tutoring, and food, clothing, and toy drives. Further, Akron Law sponsors multiple community service / pro bono events throughout the year, including the Akron Law Heart Walk, Wills for Heroes, and Akron Law Cares, the law school's annual community service and outreach project. Akron Law students also assist with multiple free legal clinics and other projects sponsored by Akron Law legal clinics and the local Community Legal Aid office.
Soup Bowl, Tutoring Project, Habitat for Humanity, the Alabama/Auburn Fight Against Hunger, Renew Our Rivers Cleanup, Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter, FocusFirst, and Hydrocephalus Awareness.
Our student/faculty Community Service Board promotes community service in a number of ways. (1) It coordinates monthly community service projects, which have included helping low-income families build homes through United Housing; volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House; organizing a team for AIDSWalk; helping Native Seed Search on their farm south of Tucson; and organizing activities for children at a local hospital. Activities are held on Saturday mornings, and faculty/staff/students participate. (2) It advises students and student organizations who want to get involved in community service work, by providing information, recommendations, and contacts. (3) It maintains paper and on-line resources about community service opportunities for law students. (4) It presents community service awards each spring. Law Students also participate in Lawyers for Literacy, in conjunction with the Pima County Young Lawyers Division. They tutor local elementary school children once per week during the school year.
Many non-law related community service events, such as the Community Life Committee workday, the Women Law Society (WLSA) Fashion Show,The Black Law Student Association (BLSA) partnership with at the local Boys and Girls club helping children with their homework, and as mentors recur annually but none of these events are formally institutionalized. Students also hold many fund-raisers throughout the year.
The Altheimer Public Service Program undertakes projects designed to benefit the local community.
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Community service work which is not law-related may be counted. However, the focus of the program is on encouraging students to use their legal knowledge and skills to increase access to justice. Thus, only 25% of the total pro bono hours for graduation recognition may be satisfied with community service work.
Pre-Law Outreach Program (POP): POP is a "pipeline" program to encourage students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter the practice of law, and give them the tools to be successful in their pursuit. The Program has three goals: 1) inspire students to enter the practice of law; 2) provide the tools necessary to be admitted into and flourish in law school; and 3) give them practical experiences in legal advocacy. In order to meet these goals, students attend six (6) Saturday classes during June and July, which includes a mentorship component. At the end of the Program, all of the students receive a free LSAT review course, donated by Kaplan Test Prep, Inc. UCI Law students are heavily involved with POP, serving as mentors, speakers, oral argument judges, negotiation supervisors, and much more.
Tutoring for Disadvantaged Children: Students provide tutoring to students living at a local motor inn.
Canned Food and Clothing Drive: Students, staff, and faculty collected canned goods prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, and all goods were donated to two local food banks. A clothing drive was also held, with donated items delivered to Isaiah House, a homeless shelter in Santa Ana.
Toiletries Drive: Students, staff, and faculty collected toiletries to be packaged and delivered to female inmates in a local prison.
University of California-Los Angeles: University of California-Los Angeles
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Numerous student groups engage in community service throughout the year. For example:
Neighbors is the Law School's primary community service organization. Each year, approximately 100 law students spend two hours a week volunteering in the local community. These service programs include individual tutoring at local elementary and high schools, career mentoring for teen-adults, participating at a soup kitchen, and visiting the elderly at the local YWCA.
Black Law Students Association has invited area high school students for an introduction to law school and held a clothing drive. They also tutor high school kids at a legal-themed charter school in West Garfield Park.
Law Women's Caucus initiated a toiletries drive, encouraging students travelling for interview to donate unused hotel toiletries, which will be distributed to local shelters.
The Student Bar Association participates in a mentoring project for at-risk junior and senior high school students sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Cincinnati Bar Association.
University of Colorado: School of Law
The Colorado Election Law Project is involved in the community by hosting voter registration drives to get law students and faculty registered to vote in Colorado. CELP advances the cause of voter participation free of charge.
The Law and Medicine Society is involved in the community by hosting a toy drive for children's units in local Colorado hospitals.
In addition to its other work, PILG manages and promotes its own community service projects.
Community service is promoted by the Campus Ministry and by numerous student organizations.
Via the Denver Law Partnership with Community Day (DPCD), law students give back to their community. Students complete service projects to improve the health and wholeness of the Denver community and raise awareness about the issues facing low-income neighborhoods and schools. They have wrapped presents for veterans, participated in Hope House, worked with attendees in the Special Olympics, gardened at a specific reservoir, and worked with Habitat for Humanity.
The Chancellor's Scholarship program, more information in our public service program, also organizes various community service days for their members. Oftentimes, they garden and clean up natural areas.
Community service is primarily encouraged and promoted through student groups, although faculty members have organized projects in the past. Examples include the collection of toiletries for the local homeless shelter or abused women's shelter; volunteering to serve meals at the homeless shelter, volunteering with the homeless van that provides outreach services to homeless individuals in the woods, parks and alleys; and serving breakfast to the homeless on the downtown plaza.
University of Hawaii: William S. Richardson School of Law
Community Service Projects, events and opportunities are advertised through the law school weekly electronic newsletter as well as individual e-mails, brochures, etc. Regular activities include:
University of Houston: University of Houston Law Center
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In order to receive funding from the Student Bar Association, groups must do two community service projects per year. The following are examples of community service projects that are done annually:
LSADR (Law Students for Alternative Dispute Resolution) has a relationship with Health and Welfare to find community service projects to benefit their community. Last year, LSADR helped provide new and used backpacks and other school supplies to foster children.
Women's Law Caucus sponsors two blood drives per year, does a donations drive for Alternatives to Violence on the Palouse (an organization that helps battered women), campaigns to raise awareness among law students of the problems of violence against women, and does an "Awareness Bake Sale" that highlights problems with sexism, racism, and other arbitrary distinctions/discriminations that many people are forced to bear the brunt of every day.
Health Law has participated in community service projects through Gritman Medical Center, the local hospital. They also distribute health pamphlets relating to stress, proper nutrition, and staying fit.
The Christian Law Society sends three or four members to the annual 4-H Know Your Government conference where they teach 4-H'ers the ins and outs of the Judicial Branch of government. The conference concludes with a mock trial with which the members assist. CLS also assists the local elderly in the fall with lawn care.
The Hunting and Fishing Association donates processed wild game to the Idaho Food Bank in Lewiston, Idaho.
University of Illinois: University of Illinois College of Law
Students participate in a wide variety of community service in the Champaign-Urbana area on both individual and organizational levels. Law students tutor at local schools, assist in preparing tax returns for low-income people, give time at a battered women's shelter, and coordinate an Angel Tree during the holiday season for the benefit of children whose parent(s) are incarcerated.
The Citizen Lawyer Program works with students and student organizations to help them connect with wide variety of pro bono and community volunteering opportunities. It collects data on student service. Students volunteer with local youth groups and in the schools, at local and clothing food pantries and homeless and domestic violence shelters, doing environmental cleanup and conservation work, and organizing blood drives, among other projects.
The Class of 2015 completed nearly 10,000 hours of service (both law related and community service) over three years.
University of Kansas: School of Law
Many of our student organizations are involved in community service projects. BLSA (Black Law Students Association) annually sponsors a Thanksgiving food drive. The Non-Traditional Students in Law sponsor an annual clothing drive to collect business attire clothing for low-income persons wanting to get back into the workforce. The International Law Society hosts an annual wine tasting to raise funds for various worthy causes, including (more recently) Haiti earthquake relief and refugee relief in the Darfur Region of Sudan and for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Women in Law sponsor an annual Pub Night event to raise money for local women's charities. NALSA holds an annual toy drive for children from the Haskell Indian Nations University. Other student organizations conduct various fundraising activities that provide support to worthy causes as well as to the Public Interest Stipend Program.
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Student organizations have, from time-to-time, engaged in pro bono and public service work. Projects have included participation in the General Relief Advocacy Program, fundraisers for various charitable organizations, food and clothing drives, high school mentoring programs, disaster relief operations, etc.
Non-law related community service activities are primarily promoted by the Student Bar Association.
The law school's Environmental Law Society administers a number of projects, including an ongoing recycling program at the law school and an annual 5K Run which raises funds for various environmental causes.
Maryland Public Interest Law Project, promotes public interest and community service activities in the law school community. Maryland Service Corps
University of Memphis: Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
Along with contributing pro bono service, our students are dedicated to providing community service. The Student Bar Association hosts various activities throughout the year, including an annual 5K Race Judicata with proceeds benefiting Memphis Area Legal Services. Other Registered Student Organizations are dedicated to varying service projects. The Black Law Student Association hosts an annual blood drive and food drive; the Association for Women Attorneys hosts an annual toy drive for Sophia's House; the Memphis Association of Law and Business is organizing its first VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program; PALS participates in Project Homeless Connect, and the Christian Legal Society typically serves the homeless at soup kitchens and does area cleanups.
University of Miami: University of Miami School of Law
Community outreach projects are made available through the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center, Student Bar Association, and Student Organizations. Each year, HOPE sponsors a Day of Service which sends hundreds of volunteers to various community agencies/sites for service projects. Other community service projects include: Habitat for Humanity, Community Partnership for the Homeless, 'Canes Carnival, Empowered Youth, Books & Buddies, and Camillus House. Each year, student project leaders add more community outreach initiatives. These community service projects, in addition to the many legal advocacy projects, are available to all University of Miami Law students.
University of Michigan: University of Michigan Law School
Michigan Law School was the first law school in the nation to incorporate community service into its orientation. Each year, the orientation program includes an organized day of community service-Service Day-- for incoming students, staff and faculty. Service Day is followed by a barbecue dinner for all participants.
Community service doesn't begin and end with Service Day, however. In a community as vibrant as Michigan Law School, it's difficult to go a week without seeing posters encouraging law students, faculty and staff to participate in a blood, food, used cell phone, toy, clothes or other fundraising drives for various community organizations.
The University also has community service projects organized through the Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning (http://www.umich.edu/~mserve/).
University of Minnesota: University of Minnesota Law School
Raise the Bar: Students organize a semi-annual day of service for the Minneapolis-St. Paul community. These opportunities reach beyond legally related volunteer opportunities and allow the students to better understand their community.
Law students are able to become involved with a state of citizens committed to community service.
University of Mississippi: School of Law
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Community Service projects are promoted by the Director of Student Affairs, Career Services, faculty members and the Public Interest Law Association. Projects include:
University of Montana: University of Montana School of Law
The Women's Law Caucus volunteers at a local shelter. The law school community participates in a University –side "Adopt a Family or Agency" every year, selecting a family or agency, collecting money, buying gifts, and giving the gifts to the family/agency. Other student organizations donate money to charities and have other activities such as food, book, and clothing drives. The Women's Caucus holds a Silent Auction event annually and donates the money to a local women's organization.
University of Nebraska: University of Nebraska College of Law
Student organizations sponsor several long-standing, annual community service projects: blood drives, winter clothing for needy children, food bank contributions, donations to rape/spouse abuse center.
Student organizations who receive funding must plan and participate in at least one philanthropic event per year. The organizations must complete 20 hours of service outside of the physical vicinity of the law school. Activities include donations for the homeless, walk-a-thons, organizing events at a domestic violence shelter, etc. .
Bruce Friedman Community Service Day
Recognizing a community rich in public service, the UNH School of Law annually hosts the Bruce Friedman Community Service Day honoring the late UNH School of Law professor Bruce Friedman. On an autumn weekend, law students and faculty work side-by-side donating their time and attention to helping local community organizations and programs—such as the Friendly Kitchen Food Pantry, Dress for Success Program, and local public schools.
Teen Court Program
In connection with the national Teen Court Program, providing first-time juvenile offenders with a voluntary sentencing alternative to avert the criminal justice system, the University of New Hampshire School of Law students work together with the Merrimack County Juvenile Diversion Program to mentor local teen "attorneys" and teen "jurors" in juvenile offender hearings. Law students help develop high school students' basic legal skills through training sessions and mock-hearings. Then, law students sit with teen "attorneys" during their actual hearings in front of sitting State Court Judges. The program gives law students the opportunity to teach teenagers about the judicial process and trial advocacy.
Student groups host clothing drives, food drives, including for animals, and engage in other community services efforts like staffing free meals programs for the hungry.
American Constitution Society (ACS) Constitution in the Classroom:
ACS hosts two Constitution in the Classroom events every year, where law students visit local middle schools and present a short lesson on important cases that affect student's constitutional rights. This is a fantastic opportunity to teach students the power of the law to bring positive changes into people's lives.
Child Action:
In collaboration with the UNC School of Social Work, Child Action hosts a Child's Day in Court Mock Trial, educating social work students on how to interact and learn more about child custody hearings. Law students direct and cross examine social work students, and students learn more about being an effective witness. Child Action also encourages law student participation with Guardian ad Litem in counties surrounding the UNC campus.
Domestic Violence Action Project (DVAP) 5K Fundraiser:
Each fall, DVAP holds an annual 5K race at the UNC cross country trails to raise funds for summer public interest grants. These grants benefit UNC Law students seeking unpaid summer public interest internships with a focus on domestic violence.
Environmental Law Project (ELP) Recycling Program:
The Recycling Program is an important part of ELP's fundraising and awareness campaigns. Instead of outsourcing the recycling to an independent company, UNC Law pays ELP the same amount to empty the law school recycling bins. ELP then uses this money to provide grants to students with summer public interest jobs in environmental law. Additionally, ELP uses the Recycling Program as a springboard to educate others in the school about the value of recycling and what items they can and cannot recycle.
Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) Pet Photo Contest:
SALDF holds an annual pet photo contest to raise funds for the Orange County Animal Shelter. Faculty and staff are encouraged to submit photos of their pets, and individuals may vote on the cutest pet by making a donation on behalf of their favorite pet.
Women in Law (WIL) Girl Scout Mock Trial:
WIL hosts an annual Girl Scout Mock Trial with Girl Scouts of America, where local Girl Scouts participate in programming at UNC Law to earn their justice badge.
Students are encouraged to participate in community service. Students may complete up to 10 hours of general community service to count toward their 50-hour pro bono pledge and up to 25 hours of general community service to count toward their 100-hour pro bono pledge.
The Women's Law Forum coordinates an annual clothing drive for women in shelter care.
Phi Alpha Delta, the service fraternity, sponsors a number of service projects throughout the year. These projects include two blood drives and a food drive, as well as encouraging students to get involved in local Teen Court and SMART reading programs.
Beginning in 2004, the Public Interest/Public Service Program (PIPs) began coordinating a Saturday Public Service Day, engaging law students and faculty to visit various non-profit organizations to undertake service projects. PIPS has also begun coordinating an annual food drive, assembling multiple food baskets from many student groups, for low income families in the Eugene community.
The Minority Law Students Association sponsors a mentoring program, in which MLSA members mentor low income or at-risk students in local elementary schools.
The Toll Public Interest Center (TPIC) informs students about community service opportunities on a regular basis, and assists student groups in coordinating service initiatives.
The Pro Bono/Volunteer Fair also includes representatives from non-legal organizations. In addition, volunteer opportunities are emailed to students from both the Career Services Office and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
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Angel Tree
Elementary School Tutoring
GED (General Education Diploma) Program
The student-run Public Service Board works independently and with student organizations to infuse the law school culture with a commitment to public service by developing non-legal public service opportunities for students, including a Public Service Day each semester in which faculty, staff and students all are encouraged to participate. In addition, over the last year, the Public Service Board has developed relationships with a number of organizations with whom the law school now sponsors regular service projects. These include Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children. Moving ahead, the Public Service Board expects to develop a regular after-school mentoring program with at least one inner city school.
Mentoring- This program pairs an elementary school with law students. USD volunteers serve as role models for these students. By developing a relationship, the volunteers provide guidance and encouragement to seek higher goals.
Beach Clean-up - Students participate one semester in an area beach clean-up process.
Law In Motion Service Program
The Law In Motion Service Program's motto is "Knowledge, Service, Justice." It provides legal and non-legal community service projects for law students, faculty and staff. The law school deeply believes that student engagement in the community in these types of activities fosters an awareness of the needs of others and reinforces a central message of the law school that the opportunity to study and ultimately practice law is a privilege that brings with it the responsibility to use one's legal skills and training for the benefit of the marginalized in society.
This multi-faceted program engages hundreds of law students in the community in a myriad of activities ranging from visiting and talking with prison inmates to serving meals in the city's Tenderloin to working with schizophrenic children.
While the majority of Law In Motion activities are non-law-related, some activities are, in fact, law-related. For example, students have performed services as 'testers' in housing discrimination investigations, assisted in the preparation of tax returns for seniors and low-income individuals and have participated in a Spring Break Project in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco.
The Pro Bono Program promotes and conducts a number of community service projects. Each semester the Pro Bono Program sponsors a monthly community service called "Good Deed Friday". These events are limited in the number of volunteers but draw from all classes.
Other ongoing and episodic projects include: tutoring at a local elementary school, twice annual food drives, collection of personal care products for local shelters, Halloween Carnival for local area at risk children, and Thanksgiving Dinner at a transitional housing complex for homeless families.
Since 2008 the Pro Bono Program has coordinated the “Incoming Law Student Community Service Project”. Held at the end of orientation, the entire incoming class, peer mentors, and faculty are sent to over 14 locations to perform general community service tasks as well as to learn about the services provided by that organization.
In addition to student assistance described above, members of the USD School of Law administration, faculty, and staff are actively involved in a number of community organizations that provide pro bono service.
The Community Service Committeeis a student group that coordinates community service projects and events at the law school and in the community throughout the academic year, including the orientation community service event.
Many non-law related community service events recur annually.
University of Texas at Austin: University of Texas at Austin School of Law
Entering students participate in the First Year Initiative for Public Service, sponsored by the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law and the Office of Student Life. An orientation speaker introduces students to pro bono and public service as expected parts of every lawyer's career. Students then attend special classes on increasing access to justice, with presentations by a professor, a judge, a private attorney and a public interest attorney. Each of the eight student "societies" participates in community service projects.
In addition to the pro bono legal service work the faculty supervises in the community service and clinical programs, the David A. Clarke School of Law faculty are required to report annually to the Faculty Evaluation, Retention, and Tenure Committee on service to the community. The standard articulated for this service states, "A faculty member is expected to contribute publicly and professionally to the legal profession and the community.... These activities should include pro bono representation, amicus brief preparation, or other uncompensated service in connection with a bar association or other professional, governmental, or community organization over and above a faculty member's regular legal work in the clinic." Selected examples include work on a petition for a writ of certiorari for a defendant sentenced to death, participation in the D.C. Bar's pro bono program for veteran's claims for service-connected disabilities, case work through Legal Counsel for the Elderly for senior citizens, representation of a federal inmate in a First Amendment challenge, mentoring attorneys and paralegals in law firms who provide legal representation through the D.C. Bar pro bono clinic in social security disability and landlord/tenant matters, and filing amicus curiae briefs advocating the rights of persons with disabilities in three ADA cases before the Supreme Court.
The College of Law encourages students to participate in a variety of community service and public interest activities. Students have opportunities to volunteer in warm clothing and canned food drives, the Student Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, Pro Se Clinics through area bar associations, and mentoring programs. In addition, students receive academic credit for participation in programs that provide free legal services through the Legal Clinic, the Dispute Resolution Clinic, the Criminal Law Practice Program, the Public Service Externship Program, and the Domestic Violence & Juvenile Law Clinic. Further, students assist faculty who perform public service through their individual volunteer service to the community and the legal profession.
Students and student groups engage in a number of community service projects throughout the year, beginning with a community service project during Foundations of Legal Studies (orientation).
On monthly basis students, staff, and faculty host a birthday party at a local apartment building for handicapped individuals, Murdock Villa.
In conjunction with the Tulsa County Bar Association students mentor children through the Hamilton Lunch Buddy program.
Each semester the Women's Law Caucus holds a canned food drive with all donations going to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Most recently WLC collected enough donations to supply 2,905 meals.
The WLC also raises funds to build schools in Cambodia, to keep young girls out of the sex trade, and for school supplies.
WLC coordinates a College of Law team for Race for the Cure, annually.
The Military Law Society participates in the Toys for Tots annual toy drive.
The Native American Law Student Association hosts a Holiday Angel Tree benefitting Native American children in the foster care system.
The College of Law holds a drive for mittens as part of a holiday gift program at Kendall Whittier Elementary School.
Paw Law delivers meals to pets through the Meals on Wheels program on a bimonthly basis.
In addition, Paw Law volunteers at the Tulsa Animal Shelter on a monthly basis helping to socialize adoptable animals.
Students, faculty, and staff participate in various community service projects each year in conjunction with the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center at the University. Past projects have included performing maintenance work at the Pacific Heights and Pacific Avenues public housing sites, the Jackson Elementary School and the New Hope Refugee Center.
Additionally, the Pro Bono Initiative offers students and legal professionals a free "Spanish for Lawyers" class once a semester.
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Student groups at the School of Law engage in numerous community service projects. These include legal observer programs, immigration court watch programs, mentorship programs, community legal outreach programs, volunteer interpretation services and more. These programs are sponsored by Student-run organizations.
Community Outreach Day
All incoming students participate in a day-long community service project serving the Madison community as part of the fall orientation program. On this day, students are introduced to the variety of community service and pro bono opportunities available at the law school.
Student-led Community Service Initiatives
The Student Bar Association and several other student groups on campus support community service efforts. Students give back to the Madison community in a variety of ways such as: coordinating a middle school Mock Trial competition, hosting a holiday toy drive, holding blood drives, and participating in direct service at non-profit organizations throughout Madison.
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We have an annual Community Service project as part of our orientation for 1L students, in which groups of 5-8 students go to a number of community agencies for 3 hours and work together on a project. The Vanderbilt Bar Association (VBA) has organized a Habitat for Humanity project for the entire law school community over the past two years. The Women's Law Student Association (WLSA) sponsors a law school team for the Komen Race for the Cure funding breast cancer research. The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) usually has a monthly community service program.
Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Service Trip.
Big Little Program - students provide mentoring to children in the local community (similar to Big Brother-Big Sister program).
Students for Community OutReach and Education (SCORE) - students host annual college fair for local high schools.
Environmental Law Society's Earth Week Service Project - students organize volunteer event, such as clean-up of White River area.
Student Bar Association sponsorship of Red Cross Blood Drive.
Black Law Student Association food and coat drive.
International Law Society - Lauren Salb & Kim Colburn Legal Text Book Drive for international law students.
There is a Day of Service incorporated into the fall orientation for new students. In the past years, students, staff and faculty participated in projects sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and Philadelphia Cares. In addition, there are many community service projects and activities throughout the year, some sponsored by the Pro Bono Society (PBS) and some by the Student Bar Association (SBA). These include a Philadelphia CARES Day of Service; the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service; the AIDS Walk; the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk; and "adopting" a low-income family at Christmas that needs food, toys and other items to celebrate the holiday.
Phi Alpha Delta Co-ed Legal, Social, and Service Fraternity
Law and Medicine Society Sponsors the Red Cross Blood Drives
Domestic Violence Awareness Coalition Volunteer Days at local battered women's shelter
Domestic Violence Awareness Coalition Fundraising Raffle for local battered women's shelter
Hispanic and Latino Law Student Association Project Pumpkin
Black Law Student Association Earth Day Park Clean Up
Black Law Student Association MLK Center Halloween Carnival
Black Law Student Association MLK Center Weekly Tutoring
Black Law Student Association Second Harvest Food Bank Food Drive
Black Law Student Association Salvation Army Coat Drive
Black Law Student Association Salvation Army Christmas Toy Drive
Youth Advocacy Group Tutoring at Hanes Hosiery Community Center
Youth Advocacy Group Community Cares Days
Youth Advocacy Group Hanes Hosiery Community Center Youth Basketball Coaching SBA and NCBA Food Drive
Simmons Memorial Foundation: Professor Omari Simmons's foundation that provides educational support programs for high school students from vulnerable at risk groups.
Outlaw Benefit Event for Human Rights Campaign
Public Interest Law Organization Fundraising campaign and Auction to fund public interest and public service summer grants for law students
Public Interest Law Organization Kickball for Kids
Public Interest Law Organization Angel Tree
Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Animal Shelter Fundraiser
VALOR Canned Food Drive
VALOR Veterans Workshop
The University maintains a database where all students, undergraduate and law, report their community service work.
Many students and faculty members perform community service for a variety of civic, religious, and charitable organizations.
The Student Bar Association has an active annual community service component that successfully encourages students to work for community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.
MCLSA (Multi-Cultural Law Students Association) sponsors an annual High School Day, with discussions of legal issues and legal careers with urban high school students.
SBA sponsors Toys for Tots and a Clothing Drive for Winter Coats.
PAD has annual Easter Egg Hunt for children of local shelter and helps monthly to serve food at shelter.
Women's Law Association annually participate in Walk for the Cure.
LSD participates in Work-A-Day Program.
Student Bar Association, student organizations, and fraternity coordinate student participation in food, clothing, and school supply drives; disaster relief efforts; blood drives; shelter visitations; Habitat for Humanity projects, to name a few.
Orange County Food Drive in conjuction with the Orange County Bar Association
Los Padrinos Juvenile Advocacy Clinic
Wet Weather Shelter in conjunction with the Public Law Center
The Student Bar Association requires that each and every student organization engage in at least one community service project per semester. Therefore, each year our student groups perform a wide-range of community services activities such as collecting food, clothing, and/or school supplies for the needy; fundraising for local charities; collecting text books for law schools in Africa; and providing service to groups that advocate for children and victims of domestic violence.
The Student Bar Association requires that each and every student organization engage in at least one community service project per year. Therefore, each year our student groups perform a wide-range of community services such as collecting food, clothing, and/or school supplies for the needy; fundraising for local charities; collecting text books for law schools in Africa; and providing service to groups that advocate for children and victims of domestic violence.
Community Service is included in the Pro Bono Honors Program.
Information on student organizations that have a community service mission and/or sponsor community service activities is available at http://law.wm.edu/studentlife/studentorganizations/index.php.
Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is committed to fostering an active social, political and academic community of Black students at the Law School. They are also dedicated to making substantial contributions to Community by planning BLSA-specific service activities and by encouraging individual BLSA members to volunteer their time and talents to wide-ranging community service initiatives. Individual BLSA members have worked with students at Elm City Prep as tutors and mentors, traveled to New Orleans to support Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts, and raised money for countless other service initiatives.
The Latino/a Law Students Association (LLSA) unites YLS's Latino/a students in a social, civic, political, and educational community. LLSA is committed not only to strengthening the presence of Latinos on campus but also to interacting with and contributing to the New Haven/Fair Haven Latino community. LLSA members volunteer at a local soup kitchen and partner with JUNTA Progressive Action, a non-profit organization that serves the legal and educational needs of the Latino community. Several members regularly mentor and teach Latino juvenile offenders at Project APOYO.
SPIF- Student Contribution (SPIF-SC, formerly known as YIPPIE) encourages student participation in summer public interest work by raising funds to supplement SPIF (Summer Public Interest Fellowship) funding.
The mission of Yale Law Women (YLW) is to promote the interests of women within and outside of the Law School. YLW devotes its resources to fostering discussion and debate of women's and gender issues, broadly defined; to the support, professional development, and recognition of women within the Law School community; and to advocacy for and in service of women's interests in our broader community. To further these purposes, YLW organizes a number of events to serve the public, acknowledging the multiplicity of ways in which law, gender, and social issues interact.
Passover Food Drive, Annual Holiday Toy Drive, Annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) street homeless survey, AIDS Service Center, Disaster Relief Projects, including Superstorm Sandy relief and the Haitian earthquake response.
Updated on: 7/18/2018