Directory
Western State University College of Law
Western State University College of Law
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Category Type
A Formal Voluntary Program characterized by a referral system with a coordinator.
Description of Programs
In the school's programming and course of study, the faculty attempts to inculcate an ethic of public service. Central to this effort is the Public Service Program which provides resources, programs, and placements to enable students to use their developing legal skills to provide assistance to their communities and to the underprivileged. Student service is approved by the Director and subject to faculty oversight. Public interest service is recognized throughout the law school community in the form of awards, certificates and transcript notations. The program also recognizes public interest service of a non-legal nature that nevertheless supports and reinforces the program's mission.
Location of Programs
The Public Service Program is sited in the Career Services Office in Suite 212.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The program is administered by the Director of Career Services and Public Service with the assistance of the Alumni/Career Services Coordinator. Policies and procedures are subject to oversight by the faculty.
Funding
The Public Service Program and all institutionally supported public interest programs are supported through the school's operating fund.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Faculty pro bono service is strongly encouraged and is one of the criteria for review and tenure.
Awards/Recognition
- Certificate of Public Service - 40+ hours of public service
- Certificate of Distinguished Public Service - 100+ hours of public service
- Certificate of Exemplary Public Service - 200+ hours of public service
- Wallace Davis Public Service Award
- Robert Green Public Service Award
Community Service
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.
Law School Public Interest Programs
Contact Information
None listed
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Criminal Law Certificate includes public interest externships.
Public Interest Centers
The Criminal Law Practice Center coordinates criminal law related public interest projects.
Public Interest Clinics
The Western State Legal Clinic accepts a wide range of public interest cases.
Externships/Internships
- Project Innocence Externship
- Public Defender Externship
- Legal Aid Externship
- Fair Housing Externship
- Judicial Externships
Classes with a Public Service Component
None listed
Public Interest Journals
Public Service webpage is a component of the Career Services website.
PI Career Support Center
The Career Services Office provides staffing and administrative support for the Public Service Program, as well as student, alumni and faculty initiated public interest projects.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
None listed
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
None listed
Graduate Student Funded:
None listed
Other Funding Sources:
None listed
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
None listed
Graduate Student Funded:
None listed
Other Funding Sources:
None listed
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
None listed
Graduate Student Funded:
None listed
Other Funding Sources:
None listed
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
None listed
Student Public Interest Groups
Association for Human Rights Awareness
Criminal Law Association
National Lawyers Guild
VITA
August 7, 2018