an e-guide snapshot of law school pro bono the role of law schools in fostering commitment to pro...
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AN E-GUIDE SNAPSHOT OF LAW SCHOOL PRO BONO
THE ROLE OF LAW SCHOOLS IN FOSTERING COMMITMENT TO PRO BONO PUBLICO- A NATIONAL CONFERENCE
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY of AMERICA COLUMBUS SCHOOL OF LAW
October 5, 2007
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What is The E-Guide to Public Service at America’s Law Schools?
2006-2007 E-Guide Edition reports data on 158 participating law schools
Schools were surveyed on curricula, pro bono and public service programs, and financial considerations
Let’s take a quick visit….
A Snapshot of Pro Bono Activities from Participating
E-Guide Law Schools
www.ejw.newsweek.com
E-Guide Data Focal Areas
This Presentation will provide data from only limited portions of the E-Guide. Focal areas include:
Faculty Pro Bono Pro Bono Policies Available Law School Resources Examples
Student Pro Bono Engagement (Curricula) Pro Bono Engagement
Faculty Pro Bono Policies
Faculty Pro Bono Policies
127 Schools have NO POLICY on Faculty Pro Bono
33 either encourage (14) or require (19) reporting
90 provide resources for those performing pro bono
Faculty Pro Bono Policies Cont’d.
23 Schools have a VOLUNTARY POLICY on faculty pro bono
21 of those schools provide resources for those performing pro bono
19 of those schools either encourage (12) or require (7) reporting
Faculty Pro Bono Policies Cont’d.
10 Schools have a MANDATORY POLICY about faculty pro bono
All 10 provide resources for those performing pro bono
9 of those schools either encourage (3) or require (6) reporting
Faculty Pro Bono Policies Cont’d.
Although the majority of law schools do not have a formal Pro Bono policy
48 Schools collect data on number of faculty that do pro bono
33 Schools had 10 or more faculty known to be doing pro bono
Law School Resources for Faculty Pro Bono
Law School Resources Cont’d.
121 Schools provide resources for faculty pro bono* Most common resources include:
Secretarial and other human resources
Office equipment, such as copiers
Legal research assistants
*Includes schools with and without pro bono policies
Other resources available:
41 schools allow use of leaves and summer (and other) faculty research grants
37 provide mechanism for connecting faculty with pro bono cases to students seeking pro bono work
Law School Resources Cont’d.
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Work
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono
Direct Representation/Brief Service (> 50 examples)
Death penalty appeals Wills drafting Undertake representation of individuals who have
been arrested but not charged Service to Soldiers: Legal Assistance Referral
Program VITA Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Katrina victims Asylum seekers
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.
Board of Directors/Commission Service (>40 examples)
Women’s Law Center of Maryland Public Justice Center General Counsel of Hispanic National Bar Association Legal Services for New York Iowa Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Iowa
Rules of Evidence Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Karamah (Muslim women lawyers for human rights);
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.Impact Litigation (>15 examples):
Represented a patients’ rights group in a US Supreme Court case
Lawsuit challenging the policy policy of routinely videotaping public gatherings in NYC
Lawsuit to guarantee legal representation at bail hearings
Represented Iraqi civilians to address the applicability of European Convention on Human Rights to British forces in Iraq
Represented citizens’ group to enforce compliance with environmental and land-use laws
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.Legislation/Testimony (>15 examples):
Consulted on federal legislation to secure GLBT relationship rights for bi-national couples
Testified before Committee on Banking and Financial Services US House of Representatives on consumer protection issue
Drafted statement for Senator Grassley about why low-income poultry farmers should not subject to mandatory arbitration clauses
Delegation to Liberia to draft blueprint for development of a juvenile justice system
Testified on racial discrimination in the administration of North Carolina’s death penalty statutes before a special select committee of the General Assembly
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.
Amicus/Appellate Briefs and Argument
(> 10 examples): Wrote amicus brief on right to marriage for
same-sex couples in Maryland
Wrote amicus brief on school desegregation in Kentucky and Seattle school district cases
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals challenge to Missouri’s provisions that disenfranchise disabled adults placed under full guardianship
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.Advice to Projects/Nonprofits (> 10 examples):
Founded non-profit providing free legal services to computer programmers and non-profit collectives that make and distribute “free software”
Advising indigent criminal defense organizations regarding DNA issues
Provide tax advice for establishment of new non-profits
Developed long-term comprehensive plan to study the effectiveness of Pennsylvania sentencing practices
Undertaking a study in Detroit to learn how low and moderate-income households make financial decisions, the financial services they use and the constraints that they face
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.
Trainings/Presentations (> 5 examples):
"Poverty IQ Test" presentations to attorneys and other advocates
Court dealings with unrepresented litigants
Habeas corpus training program for attorneys doing capital defense work
workshops on estate planning and advance directives at neighborhood centers
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.
Elected/Judicial Office (> 5 examples):
Des Moines City Council Member
Mayor Steamboat Rock Iowa
Iowa House of Representatives
Fair Housing Officer
Tribal Supreme Court Justice
Examples of Faculty Pro Bono Cont’d.
And Finally…
American University’s Dean Claudio Grossman participated in the litigation of a case against Cuba at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights regarding the summary execution of three Cuban citizens.
Student Pro Bono Programs
Cindy AdcockDirector of Experiential Learning and Associate ProfessorCharlotte School of Law
Institutional Support for Pro Bono
Institutional Support
Pro Bono Staff:
89 Schools have their pro bono program staffed by the equivalent of .10 staff (10% of 1 Full-Time Employee’s time)
33 Schools have the equivalent of .5 (50% of 1 FTE)
19 Schools have equivalent of 1 FTE
7 Schools have 1 (or more) staff at FTE
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Georgetown University Law Center
Mississippi College School of Law
Rutgers School of Law-Newark
Seattle University School of Law
Southern Methodist Univ. School of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
Institutional Support Cont’d.
Hubs for non-curricula public interest activities
60 Schools reported having a hub for non-curricula public interest activities such as a public interest office
Institutional Support Cont’d.
Public Interest Committee or Advisor to the Dean 117 Schools reported having a Dean Appointed
Faculty Committee or Advisor on public interest or public service.
16 Schools reported having a student committee that advised a faculty member or administrative staff on public interest, LRAP, etc.
Institutional Support Cont’d.
Recognition of Graduating Students and Non-Graduating Students Public Interest and Pro Bono Activities
136 schools reported having recognition of graduating students for public interest and pro bono work.
96 schools reported recognition of non-graduating students.
Student Engagement
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Clinical Programs
149 schools had clinical programs
Only 18 Schools Guarantee a Clinical Opportunity for all students who want a clinical experience
94 (63%) schools reported that they didn’t
have a guarantee, although historically more than 90% of clinic applicants were admitted
Student Engagement Cont’d. Clinic and Field
Placement Requirements
9 law schools require student participation in a clinic or field placement prior to graduation.
LET’S ADD TO THIS GROUP!!
City University of New York School of Law (CUNY)
Thomas Cooley School of Law
University of the District of Columbia
University of Montana University of Nevada- Las
Vegas University of New Mexico Northeastern University University of Puerto Rico South Texas College of
Law
Student Engagement Cont’d.Percentage of Eligible Student Clinic Enrollment 118 schools provided data:
Student Engagement Cont’d.Percentage of Students Enrolled in a Field Placement102 schools provided data
Student Engagement Cont’d.Percentage of Students Reporting Pro Bono Service
60 Schools that collected and reported data:
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Percentage of Students who had a Public Interest Job Experience
This data is often difficult to collect 36 schools were able to report data in this area:
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Non-academic Student Public Service and Pro Bono Activities
120 Schools have student organizations that initiated pro bono activities
584 student organizations had at least one pro bono event in 2006
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Class of 2006 Graduate Snapshot
% of students that had at least one hands-on law-related public interest experience during law school*
29 Schools can report the TOTAL 18 Schools > 75% 9 Schools 50-74% 2 Schools 25-49%
* Includes Clinic, Field Placement and Pro Bono
* Includes Clinic, Field Placement and Pro Bono** Should be higher – doesn’t include every school with pro bono, clinical or
public service requirement
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Graduating Class of 2006 Snapshot
50 Schools can report % of students that performed pro bono
11 Schools >75%8 Schools 50-74%31 Schools 25-49%
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Class of 2006 Graduate Snapshot
68 Schools can report the percentage of students that completed at least one clinical course
3 Schools >75%9 Schools 50-74%36 Schools 25-49%20 Schools <25%
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Class of 2006 Graduate Snapshot56 Schools can report the percentage of students that completed at least one field placement
2 Schools >75%11 Schools 50-74%25 Schools 25-49%18 Schools <25%
WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?
Beyond the numbers: Reflections, Questions and Discussion
Thank You!!!
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www.equaljusticeworks.org
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Professional Skills Requirements
50 law schools require students to take at least one professional skills course such as:
Trial Advocacy Negotiation/ ADR Advanced Legal
Research and Writing
Moot Court Requirement is often
met if student participates in a clinic field placement
Student Engagement Cont’d.
CURRICULUM 61 Schools have public interest
certificate or concentration
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Select Student Pro Bono Requirement (35/ 22%)
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Student Service Schools with combination
programs 35/ 22%
Student Engagement Cont’d.
13 of the 23 Schools that have General Pro Bono or Public Service Graduation Requirement allow Public Interest Courses to qualify the Requirement
Student Engagement Cont’d.
25 Schools report Public Interest Integration with First Year Courses
10 are clear from description* 15 need further inquiry**
* Includes: required courses on “Social Justice and the Law”; “Liberty, Equality and Due Process”, “Legal Skills in Social Context”; required pro bono as part of 1l course; required Legal Skills course writes pro bono policy; required Advice and Persuasion class uses public interest scenarios in its exercise simulations
** Required courses on “Legal Profession”, “International Law”, “Professional Responsibility”; voluntary weekly sessions open to all students; trial practicum; all faculty focus on public interest cases and issues but not reflected elsewhere
Law School Pro Bono Programs
133 Law Schools reported having formal Pro Bono Programs while only 25 participating schools did not.
16%
84%
NoYes
Faculty Pro Bono Policies Cont’d.
32 Schools mandate reporting of pro bono work, whether or not the school has a pro bono policy to encourage that work
Faculty Pro Bono Policies Cont’d.
Most common faculty pro bono statistical pattern, which was reported by 76 Schools:
NO POLICY Reporting is either encouraged (60) or
required (16) School resources are available for faculty
who decide to undertake pro bono
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Mandatory Student Pro Bono Programs
15 Schools reported general pro bono requirements for students prior to graduation.
Average Requirement of 30-40 hours
Charlotte School of Law
Columbia University School of Law
The Univ. of the District of Columbia
Florida International College of Law
Florida State Univ. College of Law
Univ. of Idaho College of Law
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
Univ. of Pennsylvania Law School
Roger Williams Univ. School of Law
St. Thomas University School of Law
So. Methodist Univ. School of Law
Stetson University College of Law
Texas Wesleyan Univ. School of Law
Tulane University School of Law
Univ. of Washington School of Law
Student Engagement Cont’d.Public Service Graduation Requirements with Pro Bono option
6 Schools have public service requirements prior to graduation.
Average Requirement of 40-50 hours
University of Denver College of Law
Harvard University Law School
Loyola Law School (LA)
Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans
Northeastern University School of Law
Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
Student Engagement Cont’d.
5 Law Schools also have Community Service Graduation Requirements
Appalachian School of Law
Barry University School of Law
Gonzaga University School of Law
University of Maryland School of Law
University of St. Thomas School of Law
Student Engagement Cont’d.
Many other schools also have institutional community service activities for students. For example, more than 100 Schools have Legal Education Pipeline Programs.