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 Membership in the legal profession carries with it inherent commitments to equal justice and public service. With its pro bono and public interest programs, along with its clinical programs, externships and the Marshall-Brennan Fellowship program, the law school demonstrates how ethical obligations can be fulfilled and how pro bono service can be woven into every legal career. Students can become involved in pro bono projects based at the law school or in external public interest organizations as early as their first year in law school. This early involvement, which enables students to use their developing legal skills, begins a progression leading to involvement in the credit granting Civil Practice Clinic, Externship Program, and/or the Marshall-Brennan Fellowship Program. Through pro bono and public interest involvement, Rutgers law students have the opportunity to work with legal practitioners, the courts and the public, and to share in the satisfaction of helping clients who have nowhere else to turn. Hallmarks of all projects include comprehensive training and ongoing supervision. Although the Pro Bono Program is an all volunteer initiative, students who participate in pro bono activities for at least three semesters (one of which must be in their third year of law school) are eligible for a Pro Bono Award at graduation. While volunteering in the community is an end in itself, the law school honors significant Pro Bono service by recognition at graduation. The following guidelines have been established:
The Bankruptcy Pro Bono Project is a cooperative effort of the law school, Camden Regional Legal Services, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey and the private bar. It provides bankruptcy representation for those in need of filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy relief who are not presently served by existing resources. (2L and 3L students) Community Dispute Resolution Committee (CDRC) is a joint effort of the New Jersey Courts and the law school. Law Students mediate disputes referred by Camden City Municipal Court or mediate small claims matters for Superior Court, Camden. Students involved in this mediation project receive formal training and NJ Court certification as mediators. (Second semester 1L, 2L, and 3L students) The Pro Bono Domestic Violence Project is a cooperative effort of the law school and the Camden County Bar Association's Family Law Section. The Project is designed to assist victims with the initial filing of a complaint, obtaining of a temporary restraining order, and the court appearance for the permanent restraining order. (Second semester 1L, 2L, and 3L students) The Immigration Pro Bono Project includes three different opportunities; one is for students to assist attorneys from the Camden Center for Law and Social Policy with political asylum cases. Another is to work with attorneys from the Pennsylvania Immigrant Resource Center on habeus cases, and the third is to work with clients seeking naturalization. The latter includes assisting clients learn American history and government for the citizenship examination. The Pro Bono Research Project offers free legal research services to public interest law practitioners. The goal of the project is to match 2L or 3L law student researchers with supervising attorneys and organizations that can benefit from the students' legal research skills. Students, and this project will initially be limited to eight students, may provide written or oral legal analysis or may gather legal research materials such as judicial decisions or legislation. Students must devote a minimum of 20 hours to the project - and those hours can be scheduled at the student's discretion - within one semester. A further explanation of the program can be read by opening the following pdf file, click here. The application form to be printed out can be found by clicking here. The Federal Defender Death Penalty Project, which will initially be limited to one or two students from Rutgers-Camden, as well as a limited number of students from each of the other Philadelphia area law schools, is an opportunity for students to assist with investigation, brief writing, and research on death penalty cases. Substantive training will be provided. A printable application for the defender project is available by clicking here. Student Initiatives Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project provides tax assistance for low income residents of the Camden community. (Second semester 1L, 2L, and 3L students) Black Law Students Association Law Related Education Project brings legal information to Camden city public schools and the LEAP Charter School. (1L, 2L, 3L students) Students from all three classes also have opportunities to volunteer in established public interest organizations in Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia. Placements include, but are not limited to:
The Law School's Assistant Dean for Pro Bono and Public Interest Programs and the Pro Bono Coordinator oversee existing pro bono initiatives, support public interest programs and develop resources and new opportunities for Rutgers students. An Advisory Committee, chaired by the Director and including the student leadership of APIL and the law school's pro bono projects, the Directors of the Clinical and Externship Programs, selected faculty members and community representatives, provides guidance and support for pro bono and public interest activities at the law school. It also gives support for APIL's annual Public Interest Auction, which provides funding for summer public interest fellowships, and oversees the selection of graduating students who will receive Pro Bono Awards. |