Pro Bono Programs and Opportunities

What Do We Do?

The biggest project that Pro Bono sponsors is the summer Minority Law and Research Institute (MLARI) with Dr. Hayden. The program requires law students to step out of their student roles and into the mentorship role.  This is a two-week program that begins at 6:00 am and ends at midnight. The program requires Pro Bono students to volunteer to oversee high school and middle school students from sunup until bedtime. It challenges law students that have not been exposed to high risk kids to leave their comfort zone and to accept the responsibility of directing students. Law students are responsible for mentoring students, educating them about various legal courses, and escorting the students. Most importantly law students prepare the mentees to present a mock trial case in the presence of a local judge at the end of the program.

The mentorship is a yearlong process. Students are responsible for assisting with the Law Center’s First Year Orientation by making sure that incoming law students can transition from undergraduate studies to law school studies. Pro Bono students aid with housing, neighborhood selection, and basic academic needs.

In the fall Pro Bono students are primarily responsible for providing basic legal representation to clients. This includes working at the client intake office on the 4^th floor of the Court House in downtown Baton Rouge and assisting people with basic divorce questions under the supervision of Professor Marcia Burden.

Another big event that Pro Bono does in the fall is prepare for Pro Bono Week. It is a week-long series of events that showcases a variety of Pro Bono’s projects. The Executive Board is responsible for selecting a theme for the week and creating daily events that last the entire week. In the past students have hosted Pro Bono informational sessions, panel and symposium discussions on various topics, hygiene item and food drives, and block parties at the Scotlandville Community Garden that we sponsor. There is also an appreciation lunch for the faculty and staff, and an appreciation day for students.                                                                                                                                                            

In addition, Pro Bono students are also responsible for assisting with the implementation of Teen Court. Students are required to mentor service-learning students under the supervision of Ms. Carol Septs and Vice Chancellor Donald W. North. During the spring semester the biggest responsibility is running the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) program under the supervision of Chancellor John Pierre.

Students Are Currently Involved in the Following:

• Ask a Lawyer
• Capital Area United Way Volunteer Center
• Community Service Workers
• Disaster Assistance after Hurricanes and Natural Disasters
• District Attorney’s Office
• Graduation Rehearsal and Graduation
• It Takes a Village BR
• Minority Law and Research Institute (MLARI)
• LSBA Client Assistance Fund
• Public Defender’s Office
• Rape Crisis Hotline
• Scotlandville Community Garden
• Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response (STAR)
• Staff Retreat
• Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
• Voter Registration
• YMCA Summer Camp
• Zachary Food Bank

Listed below are a variety of programs that Pro Bono has worked with in the past, currently works with, or is striving to work with in the future:

Types of Legal Tasks Pro Bono Strives to Get Involved In:

• Client Interviews and/or Intake
• Document Preparation
• Drafting Legal Memoranda
• Fact Investigation
• Language Interpretation in a Legal Setting
• Legal Research
• Parole Project
• Preparation of Wills and Advance Directives
• Serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate

Types of Service Tasks Pro Bono Strives to Get Involved In:

• Anna Grace Foundation
• Baton Rouge City Court
• Baton Rouge Food Bank
• It Takes a Village BR
• Zachary Food Bank
• Development of a healthy Student/Administration environment that supports students
• Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) and Baton Rouge Bar Association (BRBA) sponsored programs
• Work with all student organizations at SULC to assist in gearing their programs toward the mission of Pro Bono