Pro Bono Program
Pro Bono Program In Action
100,000 Pounds of food in just 3 years!!
Guardians ad litem sworn in
Congratulation to the following USC School of Law students! They completed the training necessary to become guardians ad litem with the Richland County CASA Program. On Feb. 7th 5th Circuit Family Court Judge Donna Strom swore in the new GAL’s. She expressed her great appreciation for their willingness to serve their community and its most vulnerable children. This new group of volunteers join the pool of 45 other law students who are actively serving as GAL’s. » MORE
USC Law Students break their own food drive record!
USC Law Students break their own record! With an amazing 63,575 total pounds of food donated to Harvest Hope Food Bank, law students from all three classes surpassed their own Fall Food Drive contribution. "I keep saying this, but it is still true- this was the largest Food Drive ever," commented Pamela Robinson. Due to these efforts it is estimated that 1,589 adults will have 3 complete meals a day for 4 full days. The Food Drive has become a community building and service opportunity that helps to make a real difference in addressing the problem of hunger security in SC. Congratulation to everyone for making this the Best Food Drive ever! » MORE
New USC School of Law volunteer guardians ad litem
Family Court Judges Aphrodite Konduros (standing) and Leslie Riddle share words of wisdom to new USC School of Law volunteer guardians ad litem. The volunteers recently completed their extensive training. Many were in the Richland County Courthouse to be sworn in on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007. Several students walked out of the courtroom with their first assignments and were eager to start putting their new knowledge to work.
As Judge Riddle said "being a guardian is one of the most important things you can be as an attorney, you can make a real difference".
This was the largest class of Law School volunteer guardians in the 16 years that the Pro Bono Program has worked with Richland County CASA. Paige Jones, Director of the Richland County CASA Program welcomed the new volunteers with open arms and offers of support.
"Best Class" Fall Food Drive Garners Award
Hands down we are the best law school in SC and Harvest Hope Food Bank appreciates all of our hard work! On Jjanuary 11 th the Law School was presented with the "Phenomenal Food Drive Award" at Harvest Hope's 25th Anniversary Reception. The Award not only recognized the unbelievable 49,000 pounds Fall Drive but for over 10 years of contributing food for the hungry. Applause to everyone who contributed!
Below, Olivia Jones and Ben Bruner receive the "Phenomenal Food Drive Award" on behalf of the USC School of Law from Denise Holland, Executive Director, Harvest Hope Food Bank.
"Best Class" Fall Food Drive kicks off on Oct. 26th.
For over 12 years the Law School community has stepped up to the plate and made a real difference in the lives of many people facing hunger and a lack of food safety. Volunteers from the Pro Bono Program are joined in this huge effort by members of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. The competition to be declared the "best class" is between the 1L's, 2L's and 3L classes and is based on the total weight on donated non- perishable food. On Friday, Nov. 3rd special volunteers are needed to help move the donations from the Pro Bono office to the Lobby. The Harvest Hope Food Bank truck is scheduled to arrive at 12:30. Check out the bulletin boards for the latest numbers. For more information about hunger in SC go to www.harvesthope.org
Help your class gain bragging rights as being the "Best" law school class in SC.
Truancy Mediation has a new name- AIM- the Attendance Improvement Mediation program
There will be training for the AIM program on Feb. 2, 3, and 4, 2007. Trained mediators will then be scheduled to help midlands schools and students solve their truancy issues on a personal level. Mediation is a proven method for decreasing the incidence of tardiness and unlawful absences. Many local schools are partners in this program with the Community Mediation Center. The 24 hour interactive training covers such topics as theories of conflict, the stages of mediation and techniques for interviewing. If you are looking for a pro bono opportunity that has a direct link to the skills necessary to be an effective lawyer, this is an excellent project.
For more details check other the Pro Bono web page or come by the office. An application must be submitted prior to the training.
Special Students- Special Children- Special Training !!
The CASA Program will conduct a training program to become a volunteer guardian ad litem GAL) at the Law School in Jan. A GAL is appointed in every abuse and neglect case in SC. Trained volunteers investigate the allegations, interview the parties, review the documents and make a recommendation on what they consider to be in the best interest of the child. Being a GAL is a powerful way to help SC's most vulnerable children. GAL's in Richland County have a special advantage; they have the support of an extensive staff with vast experience. No one goes it alone.
The training will be held from 6:30 - 8pm on Jan.23, 25, 30 and Feb. 1st. Room TBD
Information, applications and screening forms are available in the Pro Bono Office. Don't wait to the last minute- complete the application now.
Don't speak Spanish but want to help?
Project Ayuda: Law Students Helping the Hispanic Community in conjunction with the Pro Bono Program has a new opportunity just for those interested in teaching English as a second language. Speaking Spanish is helpful but not necessary. Many of the students in this Richland District Two after school program speak English fluently but need help with vocabulary and writing skills. The best part of this volunteer project is you can help as often as you want to! The students drop in every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-7. You can only go every other Tuesday evening? And can only go from 5-6? No problem!! Plaza Communitaria is glad to have you help.
Come by the Pro Bono Program office for a simple application, details of the project and a map to the school! For anyone who has ever had to learn a second language this is your chance to share that experience with young people working hard to improve their lives.
The Path to Pro Bono
As you embark on the adventure of interviewing for either a summer or permanent job please take a moment to peruse the attached publication. The Path to Pro Bono is an interviewing tool for law students that provides tips on how to approach questions regarding a law firms pro bono commitment and the impact you can make.
A little food for thought to help fill those awkward moments!
Record Number of Volunteer Law Students Prepare a Record Number of Tax Returns
Volunteer law students from the USC School of Law Pro Bono Program prepared more tax returns this season for low-income, elderly and Hispanic clients than ever before.
Law student volunteers take an online course and become certified by the Internal Revenue Service before preparing tax returns. The USC School of Law Pro Bono Program has offered a VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) opportunity for over 16 years. Being a VITA volunteer is time-consuming and the complicated nature of the tax code makes it a project for only a certain type of volunteer. Traditionally 3-4 students are interested in volunteering in this aspect of the law. This year over 11 students became certified and helped prepare tax returns. The volunteers prepared tax returns at the West Columbia Library on Wednesdays and Saturdays in February and March.
"Our purpose is to help those people who have simple returns, 1040EZ and such, people who have difficulty understanding the complicated language or who are making a lower income. Although our services are often requested by the elderly we love it when a young mom with a child asks for help! We can make a substantial difference for them and can see the joy on their face," said volunteer Ford Graham.
In February, over 30 law students volunteered for a special tax clinic Saturday for Hispanic clients. Volunteers not only prepared the traditional tax returns and the complicated special forms needed for identification but they did it in Spanish. This project was conducted in partnership with Catholic Charities-Office of Immigration Services, the IRS, International Masters in Business Administration students from the Moore School of Business, and Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough law firm. This is the second year the Pro Bono Program has provided tax assistance to this vastly underserved population.
Volunteer income tax assistance is one of many opportunities for USC law students.
"It is an excellent way to put the theory learned in class into practice," reports Pro Bono Program Director Pam Robinson. "It is hard to know why more law students volunteered this year than in the past but I suspect that a few words of suggestion and encouragement from tax law Professor Brant Hellwig had a lot to do with it!"
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