Pro Bono Program

Volunteer Opportunities

Home Page History Board Members				Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer Enrollment Form				Student Volunteer Awards Honors Ethics Memo

CAROLINA CLERKS: Pro Bono Clerks for Pro Bono Lawyers

Carolina Clerks matches volunteer law students with SC lawyers who have agreed to pro bono client representation. Time requirement is on a case by case basis. Wide variety of cases. Foreign language skills may be needed.

Training: on the job

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC

Volunteers will assist with administrative duties such as interviewing new patients, gathering financial information, preparing new files, and converting patient charts to a new system. Spanish translators are also needed. If you are a medical doctor, nurse or pharmacist there are opportunities to fit those skills. In the future there will be special projects with this organizations that provides health care to low-income clients with no medical insurance.

Training: 1 hour orientation and application; volunteers are asked to select a regular time and date to serve.

HARVEST HOPE FOOD BANK

Volunteer law students may assist in two manners; one is in a variety of positions with the semi- annual food drives and another can be as a regular volunteer at the Food Bank. Regular volunteers may include a range of tasks from sorting food or packing bags to assisting with data entry or helping Hispanic clients.

Training: On the job.

HELP-Homeless Legal Clinic

Collaboration between a number of community organizations and the Richland County Bar Association has resulted in this effort to assist the homeless population in the Greater Columbia area. Legal clinics will be held once a month. Law student volunteers may serve in several positions: law clerk for the on-site volunteer attorneys and translators on an as needed basis.

Training: To be determined; Law clerks will be on-site for two hours and may have follow up work.

LEXINGTON COUNTY JUVENILE ARBITRATION PROGRAM

Permits the first time offender to purge their record from the system by completing a set of requirements set forth by a volunteer arbitrator. Law Students will serve as arbitrators conducting hearings for juveniles and will monitor their progress in meeting the requirements set forth in the arbitration. Usually assigned one case at a time requiring approximately a total of 8 hours. Fall Training ONLY- limited space

Training: 18 hours; application; criminal record check

LITERACY PROJECT

With an orientation, an online course and a willingness to help, a volunteer can teach an illiterate person to read or improve their reading or math skills. Working through Turning Pages volunteers will be matched with students on a schedule meeting their individual needs. English as a second language tutoring is also available. Must be available to tutor 90 minutes twice a week.

Training: Orientation, online course, application

LOGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TUTORING

Law students tutor one hour a week with a local elementary school whose students are in serious need of educational assistance This time makes all the difference in test scores and competence. Tutoring is usually in reading but math and other subjects may be needed. Logan Elementary School is convenient to the Law School.

Training: None, application and criminal record check

PROJECT AYUDA: Law Students Helping the Hispanic Community

Volunteers assist the Hispanic community by providing information about legal and non-legal issues, connecting with attorneys, and locating resources where Spanish is spoken. Volunteers also translate a limited number of documents. Many volunteer students use this opportunity to practice their Spanish; although fluency is not a requirement

Training: Research skills needed

PUBLIC DEFENDERS’ OFFICES

Law students provide research, monitor court proceedings and assist in case preparation with attorneys who represent SC’s indigent population in criminal matters. Volunteering may take place in the Richland or Lexington County offices.

Training: Research skills needed

RICHLAND COUNTY CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates

Volunteers are appointed to appear in Family Court on behalf of children in abuse and neglect cases. Working with the Richland County CASA Project, students act as unbiased representatives for the child; conduct confidential investigations; assist in preparing a plan of action; with the aid of the child’s attorney see that all pertinent information is heard by the court; help coordinate suitable social services and ensure educational continuity.

Training: 15 hours of initial training, ongoing in-service and observation of a Family Court hearing; criminal record check

SC ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION

The mission of the SC Access to Justice Commission is to expand access to civil legal representation for South Carolinians with low or moderate means. Law student volunteers will assist with research, intake and on special projects.

Training: Research skills; on the job training

SC APPLESEED LEGAL JUSTICE CENTER

Assistance in the research and preparation of material for attorney training and case litigation. Issues are those affecting the indigent population and range from bankruptcy, adoption, divorce, Social Security, Medicaid, landlord-tenant, consumer debt, to housing. Research on specific cases may also be available with local Legal Services offices.

Training: Individual, under the supervision of a SC licensed attorney; possible independent projects.

SC BAR PRO BONO PROGRAM

Students will be involved in research on specific Pro Bono cases. Students will be assigned directly to a pro bono attorney. Research requests may also result from questions posed by Committees or Sections. Skilled speakers and readers of a foreign language may also volunteer to be part of a language bank. This bank is available to attorneys working on Pro Bono cases.

Training: Research skills needed. Foreign language option

SC DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Volunteers will conduct research and assist the Departments staff attorneys on emerging issues that affect SC’s consumer population. These issues include identity theft, mortgage fraud, debt collection, vehicle sales & service, credit problems. Another service opportunity includes interviewing consumers who have requested assistance from the Department.

Training: On the job

SC DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE

Volunteers will serve as mentors, tutors or sports coaches to at-risk juveniles in DJJ custody. Another major component involves teaching a 10 session course, “Choices: Legal Awareness Sessions of Juveniles”. This can be taught as part of a team or as an individual.

Training: 1hr DJJ Orientation, application for all volunteers; 4 hours of training for Choices

SC IMMIGRANT VICTIM NETWORK

Volunteers will work as law clerks under the supervision of a staff attorney on a variety of cases ranging from immigration to other federal and state court issues. Competence in speaking, reading and writing Spanish not required but highly recommended.

Training: On the job; a regularly scheduled time commitment

SC OFFICE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE- APPELLATE DIVISION

The Appellate Division represents indigent criminal defendants who seek appellate review of their convictions from the Court of General Sessions. Student activities include research, field interviewing and legal drafting. This Office provides a unique opportunity to obtain hands on experience to those students interested in criminal law or post conviction relief.

Training: Individual, supervision by SC attorney

SC VOLUNTEER LAWYERS FOR THE ARTS

Law students will screen online applicants who have arts related issues and refer them to either the Non Profit Law Clinic or the SC Bar Pro Bono Program for further assistance. In addition students will be able to conduct research on a wide variety of arts related legal issues, prepare answers to FAQ and assist with a new online arts and the law listserv

Training: on the job.

TEAM ADVOCACY

Team Advocacy is a project of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. (P& A) Trained volunteers, working with staff from P & A, conduct unannounced inspections of SC community residential care facilities. During these inspections volunteers will interview residents seeking information about care, possible abuse and neglect or financial exploitation and available services. The Team report is filed with the appropriate authorities for follow up action. Volunteers can assist anywhere in SC.

Training: individual basis; application

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)

Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service to help older, handicapped, non-English speaking or low income taxpayers who need assistance and for whom professional tax preparation may be out of reach. Volunteers prepare basic tax returns using online software. A tax coordinator is available to handle difficult questions or returns. Law School tax courses are NOT required.

Training: Self-study course and online exam

OTHER PROJECTS

This list of projects is ever evolving. For up-to-date information contact the Director, any Board member or check on the Pro Bono Program homepage, or the TWEN Pro Bono Opportunities page

If you have an idea for a project, we are always open to suggestions and new opportunities.

How Can You Help Today? You have Choices!

To volunteer with any project submit a Volunteer Enrollment Form, or
Come by the Office Room 233, or
Contact any Pro Bono Board member, find the list on the web page

Get the latest news by signing up on TWEN - Pro Bono Opportunities