RAPPAPORT CENTER FOR LAW & PUBLIC SERVICE
PRO BONO PROGRAM

Pro Bono at Suffolk University Law School

Suffolk University Law School is committed to the principle that members of the legal community and those aspiring to enter the legal profession have an obligation to assist in providing legal services to persons of limited means, and to individuals, groups or causes that are under-represented in the legal system.  Through our voluntary Pro Bono Program, Suffolk University Law School seeks to foster in every member of the law school community - including faculty, administrators, staff and law students - a moral and professional obligation to ensure access to justice for all members of the community.

In furtherance of this principle, Suffolk University Law School challenges all incoming law students to complete at least 50 hours of law-related volunteer work before they graduate.  By participating in Suffolk’s Pro Bono Program, students have the opportunity to give back to the community by helping underserved clients or groups and participating in work to improve the law, while also gaining practical experience and building a network of professional contacts. 

AIDS Action Committee - Seeking Law Student Volunteers

AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts provides a wide range of services to individuals living with HIV and AIDS, including legal representation to clients in a variety of civil matters such as housing, discrimination, public benefits, estate planning, and family law.  The Legal Services Department is seeking upper-level law student volunteers to assist with intake and hotline work.  This placement offers a tremendous opportunity to develop excellent client relations skills over the course of the semester while also learning about a wide range of legal practice areas.  The expected time commitment is approximately 8-10 hours per week for the fall semester. Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume to Melissa N. Champagne, Esq., Staff Attorney, AIDS Action Committee, 294 Washington St., 5th floor, Boston, MA 02108, mchampagne@aac.org<mailto:mchampagne@aac.org.   Note:  AIDS Action is also seeking a part-time intern for approximately 20 hours per week to provide more substantive legal assistance.  For more information about that internship see Symplicity Posting ID 3255.

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center Legal Advocacy Program

The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is a grassroots, non-profit organization serving the needs of survivors of sexual assault, their friends and family, and the general community. BARCC’s Legal Advocacy Program is seeking a law student volunteer to work between 10-15 hours each week for a full academic year (Fall through Spring semesters) with its Case Management Program.  BARCC Case Management Interns are expected to be part of the legal advocacy team. They conduct initial phone intakes and screen cases for rape related legal issues related to housing and economic stability. Interns are assigned cases to monitor and are expected to provide the necessary advocacy for their clients.  All volunteers are required to attend a 40 hour rape crisis training.  If you are interested, please contact Clare Namugga at cnamugga@barcc.org 

Cambridge Election Commission

The following pro bono opportunities are available for law students to participate in the upcoming 2008 elections. Interested students should contact Marsha Weinerman at mweinerman@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4363.

• Voter Registration – ON-GOING through the fall, we will be conducting a number of voter registration events in Cambridge (usually on the week-ends).
• Testing Ballots – about a week before the September 16th State Primary and November 4th General/Presidential Election, we conduct a test of the ballots.   This involves marking sets of ballots and comparing a hand tally to a machine count.   This usually takes a whole day, but students available to do a morning/afternoon session are welcome.
• Election Day – September 16th State Primary and November 4th General/Presidential
• Poll workers -  Students, who are registered Massachusetts voters, can work at the polling precincts. The polls are open from7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., but students available to work at least a 4-hour shift are welcome.  Students will be trained.
• Election Office Workers - Students, whether registered or not, can work at our office on  Election Day answering calls from poll workers and voters (example – “which precinct do I vote  at?”). Students who are available to work at least a 4-hour shift are welcome.  Students will be trained.
• Election Night – Students can work at the Tabulation Center (Senior Center, Central Square) to help process the election results. This usually begins @8:00 and continues to Midnight.

Child Advocacy Pro Bono Opportunities with Professor Pitchal:

• Legislative Research Opportunity

Prof. Pitchal is seeking an upper-level student to work on a summary and analysis of new legislation that was signed by the Governor in July. Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2008 substantially revises the Commonwealth's laws regarding child abuse and foster care. This project involves carefully reviewing the legislation; creating a topical index of its provisions; cross-referencing the legislation to prior law; and summarizing the major changes. The anticipated time commitment for this project is approximately 5 hours per week during the fall semester.

• Media Tracking Opportunity

Professor Pitchal is seeking a student to track news articles, press releases, and other media publications related to child abuse, foster care, and adoption in New England and New York. This project will involve daily monitoring of media relating to these issue areas and summarizing relevant articles for Professor Pitchal. The project may also include follow-up research as needed to assist Professor Pitchal in preparing media commentary and response.

If you are interested in either pro bono opportunity, please email your resume to Professor Pitchal at epitchal@suffolk.edu no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 25th.  

Criminal Justice Research Opportunity with The Spangenberg Group

The Spangenberg Group (TSG) is a nationally and internationally recognized criminal justice research and consulting firm that specializes in indigent defense services.  Since 1985, TSG has been under contract with the American Bar Association's (ABA) Bar Information Program, which provides support and technical assistance to individuals and organizations working to improve their jurisdictions' indigent defense systems. As the ABA's sole provider of technical assistance relating to indigent defense systems, TSG has worked with judges, bar associations, state and local governments, legislative bodies and public defender organizations in every state across the country.    TSG is seeking an upper-level law student volunteer to assist with the agency’s evaluation of public defender/assigned counsel offices in a variety of jurisdictions across the nation.  Specifically, a law student is needed to provide research as needed on each jurisdiction and summarize findings in memoranda.  Strong research and writing skills are necessary.  Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume to Merritt Dattel, Esq., 1001 Watertown Street, West Newton, MA 02465, MDattel@spangenberggroup.com.

Domestic Violence Institute at Boston Medical Center (DVI at BMC)

DVI at BMC is looking for law students of all levels to volunteer in its innovative Emergency Department program. This collaboration allows students to conduct educational interviews with women patients about domestic abuse and provides services for domestic violence victims. Teams provide service from 5pm until 11pm, Wednesday through Sunday, every week. Participants commit to one shift every two weeks and are not required to volunteer during scheduled school vacations or exam times. Students attend approximately 11 shifts from September through April. This is NOT a semester-long program. Participation for the entire academic year is required.  For more information, see the website or contact Kareen Barakiva at K.BARAKIVA@NEU.EDU OR (617) 373-8249.  Note:  Interested students are also encouraged to attend the Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Advocacy Panel on Thursday, September 4th, from 2:30 – 4:00 in the Faculty Dining Room on the 4th Floor.     

Election Improvement Project

The Election Improvement Project (Project) is a joint endeavor of professors at Suffolk and Harvard Universities that aims to enlist Boston-area law school and college students in an effort to create innovative methods for ensuring compliance with federal and state voting rights laws. The Project is seeking law student volunteers to serve as exit pollsters during the November 4th election.  The goals of the Project are to reform the process of redistricting, particularly relating to compliance with federal law prohibitions against illegal gerrymandering, and the improvement of the voting process within polling places.  Law students working on the Project will interact with voters in an effort to understand potential barriers to voting, including issues of language and access.  To be eligible, all student volunteers must attend a 90 minute training in mid-October that will cover issues such as (the lack of) voter ID requirements, disability access, language assistance, requirement that ballot materials be in languages other English, etc.  Volunteers will also be trained in spotting violations of regulation of partisans, such as conducting partisan activity too close to polling places.  Trained volunteers must commit to one half-day shift (6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) on November 4th at a voting precinct to be assigned.  To sign up for this Project, contact Michelle Harper at mhaper@sufolk.edu no later than Monday, September 29th. 

Foreclosure Taskforce Pro bono Opportunity - Seeking Student Canvassers

The Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (HLAB), the Legal Services Center (LSC), and City Life have formed a coalition to address the foreclosure crisis. Through legal action and community mobilization, the Foreclosure Taskforce seeks to make it more costly and difficult for banks to evict the tenants in foreclosed properties, and in so doing pressure the banks to change their current policy of evicting everyone. To increase the number of people who stay in their homes until being evicted through court process (thus increasing the costs to banks), the Foreclosure Taskforce is organizing a group of volunteers to canvass neighborhoods and speak with tenants in person about their legal rights and option to refuse "cash-for-keys" move-out agreements (banks use these agreements to pressure tenants to leave quickly and at low cost). Suffolk Law School is partnering with the Foreclosure Taskforce by adopting a neighborhood in Chelsea for student volunteers to canvass each week. The Housing & Consumer Protection Clinic will also be taking some of the post-foreclosure eviction cases to help in the effort. If you are interested in getting involved with this exciting, cutting-edge, important work, please contact Michelle Harper at mharper@suffolk.edu for more details.

Legal Advocacy and Resource Center - Hotline Volunteers Needed

The Legal Advocacy Resource Center (LARC) is seeking student volunteers to answer hotline calls from low-income Massachusetts residents seeking information and assistance in the areas of bankruptcy, foreclosure and social security.  Volunteers will be trained to handle calls on a particular issue or the entire range of issues handled by the hotline, depending on the volunteer’s background, interest and availability.  Volunteering on the hotline is a great way to learn about legal issues, while working directly with clients.  LARC provides training, materials and ongoing supervision.  A minimum commitment of 4 hours per week for a full semester is required.  For additional information and to apply, email resume and cover letter to Dan Biagiotti, Managing Attorney, Legal Advocacy and Resource Center, 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114, at DBiagiotti@gbls.org.

Medical-Legal Partnership for Children

Middlesex DA's Office Domestic Violence Unit

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office Domestic Violence Unit investigates and prosecutes domestic violence cases and works with local police, community partners, and victim service organizations to engage in domestic violence prevention and intervention efforts. The Chief of the DV Unit is seeking student volunteers to work directly with her in the Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, MA on research projects, motion drafting, and case investigation and preparation. Students are also needed in district courts in Waltham, Malden, Somerville, and Lowell to assist with DV victim meeting coordination, witness interviews or other case investigation and preparation. Both placements offer students invaluable court observation opportunities and first-hand experience in the District Attorney’s office. Interested students should email a cover letter and resume to Suzanne Kontz, Chief of the Domestic Violence Unit , at Suzanne.Kontz@state.ma.us.

National Lawyers Guild – Street Law Clinic Project

The Street Law Clinic Project sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild provides clinics on various legal topics for non-lawyers with the goal of empowering participants by teaching them about their legal rights.  Clinics are conducted by law students with back-up by lawyers. They take place in community centers, churches, high schools, homeless shelters, union halls, and pre-release centers. The workshops are interactive, with participants figuring out how to deal with real-life situations, and usually last about two hours.  Currently, Street Law Clinics are offered in the following areas:  Stop and Search Clinic, Tenants' Rights Clinic, Workers' Rights Clinic, and Immigration Law Clinic.  For more information and to participate in the Street Law Clinic Project call (617) 723-4330.

Senior Partners for Justice Family Court Pro Bono Program

Senior Partners for Justice Family Court Pro Bono program places students in Suffolk, Middlesex and Norfolk Probate and Family Courts to work with courthouse staff on projects such as assisting unrepresented litigants.  Students must commit one full day or two half days (preferably mornings) to this internship for a full semester.  This is a terrific opportunity for students of all levels, particularly those with an interest in family law. Senior Partners will be holding an information session about this pro bono opportunity on Wednesday, August 27th at 3:00 p.m. in Room 365.

South Middlesex Legal Services

South Middlesex Legal Services, Inc. (SMLS) is a legal services agency in Framingham, MA that aids low-income individuals and families with civil legal issues such as public benefits, family law/ domestic violence, public housing eligibility/evictions, bankruptcy, and elder and homeless issues.  SMLS is seeking upper-level law student volunteers for the Fall semester (September to December) to assist with ongoing litigation and administrative matters and to conduct relevant legal research and case preparation. Applications will be accepted until August 22nd.  For additional information see Symplicity Posting ID No. 3290.