Directory
Saint John's University School of Law
Saint John's University
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz
Director, Public Interest Center
[email protected]
P: (718) 990-6948
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects.
Description of Programs
The Public Interest Center, in partnership with faculty members, manages and supports the pro bono initiatives at St. John's University School of Law. This includes the Civil Legal Advice and Resource Office (CLARO) Project, an innovative pro se advice project sponsored by the New York City Bar Association and the Queens County Bar Association, where law students work with volunteer attorneys to advise individuals on self-representation strategies when they are sued in consumer debt cases.
Location of Programs
The Public Interest Center administers the Law School's Pro Bono Service Project.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The Director of the Public Interest Center oversees the Law School's Pro Bono Service Project and works collaboratively with the various pro bono projects, the partner agencies, and each project's student coordinator.
Funding
The Pro Bono Service Project receives funding through the Law School's operating budget. Additionally, many of the projects receive funding from the Student Bar Association.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Yes.
Awards/Recognition
The Public Service Award is given to graduates who have completed at least 500 hours of qualifying service and pro bono work. Students who demonstrate an exceptional level of pro bono service, including dedicated service to specific pro bono projects, will be eligible for additional awards at Commencement.
Alternative Winter or Spring Break Projects
During spring break week in March, students commit 20 to 40 hours of pro bono work to local and out-of-state public interest organizations, gaining hands-on experience in various activities such as legal research and writing, accompanying attorneys to court proceedings and conferences, and participating in client intake meetings. With partnerships spanning over 15 organizations, students tackle a diverse array of issues, including civil rights litigation, protecting the legal rights of elder citizens and undocumented residents, advocating for LGBTQ+ youth, and defending tenants against eviction.
Law School Public Interest Programs
Contact Information
Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz
Director, Public Interest Center
[email protected]
P: (718) 990-6948
Public Interest Centers
For over 10 years, the Public Interest Center at St. John's Law has been dedicated to fostering a commitment to service by supporting and expanding various initiatives in line with the University's Vincentian mission. The Center provides a range of opportunities for students to explore and engage in public interest law and pro bono work, underscoring the legal professional’s duty in promoting social justice and serving the public good.
PI Career Support Center
St. John’s University School of Law provides a proactive, individualized, and integrated approach to career development, including for students pursuing public interest or public service careers. Career counselors and employer outreach team members work collaboratively with faculty, other offices, and alumni to help students achieve career success.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
St. John's Law School's Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) provides financial assistance to qualified Law School graduates working in public interest positions by paying a portion of their law school educational loan debt. Qualifying employment consists of full-time employment with a non-profit organization. In keeping with the St. John's Vincentian mission of service to others, the Program seeks to enable graduates to select their employment without being precluded from public interest and government options because of financial hardship. It also aims to encourage St. John's law graduates to choose public interest and public service careers. The Law School recognizes that the legal community has a responsibility to provide services to people who cannot otherwise afford representation.
Fellowships
https://www.stjohns.edu/law/academics/centers-institutes/public-interest-center
07/02/2024