Directory
Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Corey Fleming Hirokawa
Assistant Director, Center for Public Service
Emory University School of Law
(404)727-6125
[email protected]
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator
Description of Programs
Students are encouraged to undertake pro bono projects. Emory Law’s Center for Public Service coordinates special programs exclusive to Emory Law students with local public service law organizations, and students may also find pro bono opportunities through Symplicity or initiate their own opportunities as either student groups or individuals. Students who accrue 25 hours of approved pro bono work over the year are recognized at a pro bono dinner each spring and receive a certificate. Students who undertake 75 hours of pro bono work throughout their three years (50 hours for LLM students) are recognized at graduation with the Pro Bono Publico medal. Students submit their hours through the Symplicity system.
Location of Programs
Located in the Public Interest Center.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The Assistant Director, Center for Public Service has primary responsibility for administering the Student Pro Bono Program.
Funding
Law school budget.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
There is not a formal faculty pro bono policy, but faculty engage in in a diverse range of pro bono work addressing issues related to the environment, children's rights, housing and assistance to veterans. For a complete listing of our faculty bios, please visit http://www.law.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles.html.
Awards/Recognition
Pro Bono: We hold an annual recognition ceremony for students who complete 25 hours of pro bono service within an academic year and medals for graduating students who meet the 75-hour pro bono requirement (JDs) or the 50-hour pro bono requirement (LL.Ms) during their tenure at Emory Law. Public Service: The Dean’s Public Service Awards recognize up to ten students at graduation who have distinguished themselves through activities undertaken on behalf of the pubic interest either at the law school or in the wider community. The Mark and Rebekah Wasserman Award is presented to a third-year student who exemplifies the greatest commitment to public interest law through their work at Emory Law. The recipient is nominated by faculty, staff and other third-year law students.
Alternative Spring Break/Winter Break Pro Bono
The Center for Public Service coordinates with area legal services organizations to promote alternative spring break options and to pair students with sponsoring organizations.
Law School Public Interest Programs
Contact Information
Center for Professional Development and Career Strategy:
Georgette Thinn
Associate Director
[email protected]
Center for Public Service
Corey Hirokawa
Assistant Director
[email protected]
(404)727-6125
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Suggested public interest curriculum provided to Emory Law students; for more information see https://law.emory.edu/center-for-professional-and-career-development/center-for-public-service/public-interest-curriculum.html
Public Interest Centers
The Center for Public Service supports the student-run Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC), oversees the Pro Bono Program, provides public interest programming, and provides support for public interest initiatives throughout the law school.
PI Career Support Center
The Center for Public Service also provides individualized career advising for students interested in public interest, public service or government careers including state and federal clerkships and provides additional programs aimed at informing students of public sector career paths, postgraduate funding programs, networking in the public sector and more. The Center for Public Service closely coordinates with the Center for Career Strategy and Development to ensure career counselors are knowledgeable about public sector career opportunities and both departments collaborate to provide career strategy programming that is relevant and targeted towards public interest students.
The Center for Public Service provides staff support to the student organization – Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC), and advises several other student organizations
Georgia Law School Consortium Public Sector Career Fair -- This career fair is geared specifically towards students searching for public interest jobs. It is co-sponsored by four other Georgia law schools. The career fair generally takes place in February.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
A complete description of the program is available here.
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
The Barton Child Law and Policy Center offers a post-graduate public interest fellowship to a law school graduate one-three years out of law school.
The Aaron L. Buchsbaum Fellowship offers a 1-year fellowship to either a graduating 3L or a recent graduate of Emory Law to work with Georgia Legal Service Program in their Savannah office. The fellowship is awarded biannually.
The Emory Law Fellowship offers stipends to Emory Law’s juris doctor graduates who continue to seek permanent employment. Participants receive $1,500 per month from Emory Law to work at least 140 hours per month with a public sector employer.
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
The Barton Child Law and Policy Center offers the Robin Nash Fellowship, a post-graduate public interest fellowship, to a law school graduate one-three years out of law school.
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded
Other Funding Sources:
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Yes
Graduate Student Funded:
Yes
Other Funding Sources:
The primary source of funding summer public internships comes from efforts of the Emory Public Interest Committee and Center for Public Service Staff. EPIC hosts an annual Inspiration Awards event each February.
Several summer grants are provided through endowments. The majority of summer grants are provided through annual fundraising efforts. See https://law.emory.edu/center-for-professional-and-career-development/center-for-public-service/epic-inspiration-awards.html for additional information.
The Emory Summer Child Advocacy Program places students from law and other graduate programs in child advocacy internships across Georgia. This program is funded entirely through the state's award from the federal Children's Justice Act grant.
11/3/2023