Wake Forest University School of Law
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University School of Law
P.O. Box 7206
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
www.law.wfu.edu
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Professor Beth Hopkins
Director of Outreach
Professor of Practice
Wake Forest University School of Law
336.758.4268
hopkinmn@wfu.edu
Faculty Profile: http://law.wfu.edu/faculty/profile/hopkinmn/
Jackie Willingham, 3L
Director of the Pro Bono Project
Wake Forest University School of Law
willjk8@wfu.edu
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator
Description of Program
The Pro Bono Project’s mission is to provide assistance to attorneys who provide high quality, legal services, at no fee or at a substantially reduced fee, to individuals in need and to create a life-long commitment to pro bono work among Wake Law students.
Wake Forest launched the Pro Bono Project and Public Interest Initiative during the 2009-2010 academic year. The Pro Bono Project fills placements with attorneys in non-profit organizations, private practice, and North Carolina’s legal services organizations. There are five core goals of the Wake Forest University School of Law Pro Bono Project:
- Increase the availability of high quality, low-cost legal services to NC residents in need;
- Empower working attorneys to accept more pro bono cases with student assistance;
- Enhance legal education by offering students with pre-clinical opportunities to develop practical legal skills;
- Encourage greater participation in pro bono work among the local bar; and
- Create a life-long commitment to pro bono work among law school students and alumni.
For further information, see http://probono.law.wfu.edu/
Location of Program
The Pro Bono Project and Public Interest Initiative are located in the Worrell Professional Center on the main campus of Wake Forest University. The office of the Director of Outreach is located on the third floor of the Worrell Professional Center.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The program is administered by a 10-student executive board with the support and assistance of the law school administration, Director of Outreach, and partnerships with local attorneys and legal services organizations. The Pro Bono Project is the central point for all pro bono activities at the law school and maintains a database to keep track of student pro bono work. Oversight was formerly provided by a student-faculty Pro Bono Committee, but now oversight is provided directly by the Office of the Dean through the Director of Outreach.
Funding
Funding for the Pro Bono Project, Director of Outreach position, public interest speakers, and the Public Interest Retreat is primarily provided through the Office of the Dean. Some student fundraising helps support the Pro Bono Project’s Spring Break Pro Bono Trip and the Public Interest Organization’s summer public interest and public service grants.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Bankruptcy
- Individual Attorney Sponsors
- N.C. Legal Aid (foreclosures)
- [Broader Chapter 13 program under development]
Children Rights
- Guardian ad Litem – Forsyth County
- Guardian ad Litem – Stokes County
- Custody Clinic (W-S) – Legal Aid of N.C.
- Custody Clinic (Iredell) – Legal Aid of N.C.
- Teen Court
Civil Rights/Human Rights
- Rights in Police Encounters – United Way
Community Economic Development [Clinic only]
Criminal Law/Death Penalty/Innocence Projects
- Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice)
- Racial Justice Act Project – Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office
- Criminal Expungements Clinic – Legal Aid of N.C.
- Criminal Defense – Ellison Law Firm
- Rights in Police Encounters – United Way
- Criminal Defense – Forsyth County Public Defender’s Office
- Appellate Brief for 4th Circuit – Private Attorney
- Research for Habeas Petition – Private Attorney
Domestic Violence
- Safe on Seven DVD - 50b petitions – Family Services
Elder Law & Estate Planning
- Wills for Heroes – N.C. Bar Association Student Division
- Wills / Living Wills / Power of Attorney
Environmental Law
- [Project under development]
Family Law
- Divorce Clinic (W-S) – Legal Aid of N.C.
- Divorce Clinic (Iredell) – Legal Aid of N.C.
- Adoption Petition – Private Attorney Sponso r
Health Law
- Medicaid Clinic – Legal Aid of N.C.
- Disability Advocacy – United Way
Homelessness/Housing [None]
Immigration/Asylum [None]
Income Tax Assistance
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Labor Law [None]
Law Reform/Public Policy [None]
Law Related Education/Street Law
- Will Workshop - Caretakers of Children with Disabilities
- Rights of Convicted Felons – United Way
- Rights in Police Encounters – United Way
- Education Rights of Children with Disabilities – United Way
Mediation [None]
Native American Issues
- Lumbee Indians Project – Pembroke Legal Aid
Prisoner's Issues
- Innocence Project - Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice
- Rights of Convicted Felons – United Way
Veterans Affairs
- Veteran's Appeals – American Legion
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Awards/Recognition
The Pro Bono Project is working with the administration to establish a graduation award or recognition program.
Dean Blake Morant was awarded Equal Justice Works’ John R. Kramer Outstanding Law School Dean Award for 2010.
Community Service
Habitat for HumanityPhi Alpha Delta – Co-ed Legal, Social, and Service Fraternity
Law and Medicine Society – Sponsors the Red Cross Blood Drives
Domestic Violence Advocacy Center – Volunteer at local battered women’s shelter
Domestic Violence Advocacy Center – Fundraising Raffle for battered women’s shelter
Domestic Violence Advocacy Center – Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Hispanic and Latino Students – Project Pumpkin
Black Law Student Association – Food Drive
Black Law Student Association – Project Pumpkin
Black Law Student Association – Professional Clothing Drive
Black Law Student Association – Haiti Earthquake Relief Drive
Youth Advocacy Group – Tutor at Kimberly Park Elementary School
Youth Advocacy Group – Community Cares Days
Youth Advocacy Group – Hanes Hosiery Community Center youth basketball coaches
SBA and NCBA – Food Drive
Simmons Memorial Foundation – Professor Omari Simmons’s foundation that provides educational support programs for high school students from vulnerable at risk groups.
Pro Bono Project & Public Interest Initiative – Holiday volunteer program for Winston-Salem Rescue Mission
Outlaw – Held benefit event for Human Rights Campaign
Public Interest Law Organization – Fundraising campaign and annual Auction to fund public interest and public service summer grants for law students
Public Interest Law Organization – Kickball for Kids
Public Interest Law Organization – Angel Tree
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Professor Beth Hopkins
Director of Outreach
Professor of Practice
Wake Forest University School of Law
336.758.4268
hopkinmn@wfu.edu
Faculty Profile: http://law.wfu.edu/faculty/profile/hopkinmn/
Peter Ledford, 3L
Director of the Public Interest Initiative
Wake Forest University School of Law
publicinterestinitiative@gmail.com
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
None
Public Interest Centers
None
Public Interest Clinics
Wake Forest students participate in a number of formal legal clinics offering low-cost or free legal services to the community. Clinics include:
Appellate Advocacy ClinicChild Advocacy Clinic
Community Law & Business Clinic
Elder Law Clinic
Innocence & Justice Clinic
Litigation Clinic (some placements)
Externships/Internships
Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Externship Program (some placements)
Judicial Externship Program
Litigation Clinic (some placements)
Public Interest grants for summer internships with Public Defenders, District Attorneys, Legal Aid, and other public interest organizations.
Classes with a Public Service Component
Clinical courses only.
Public Interest Journals
Students interested in promoting the public interest through academic scholarship can compete for a spot on the Journal of Law and Policy, which is an interdisciplinary publication that explores the intersection of legal issues with public and social policy. Consistent with Wake Forest’s motto of “Pro Humanitate,” the Journal’s mission is to introduce, maintain, and advance discourse so as to uncover policies that will engender equality and the true administration of justice. The Journal seeks submissions that, among other goals, address various societal needs through legal doctrines and systems and hosts dynamic and engaging Symposiums on campus.
For further information see, http://lawpolicyjournal.law.wfu.edu/
Public Interest Career Assistance
The Public Interest Initiative promotes Wake Forest’s tradition of training “citizen lawyers” who serve not only their clients, but also their community, states and nation. The Initiative works with Career Services to create an easy-to-access repository of information for students seeking public interest internships, externships, and fellowships. The Public Interest Initiative also promotes connections between Wake students and professionals working in public interest through a mentorship program and an annual Public Interest Retreat that brings alumni to the university to discuss their work in public interest and non-traditional career paths for attorneys.
Many students also attend the Equal Justice Works Job Fair, of which the law school is a sponsor.
For further information, see http://publicinterest.law.wfu.edu/
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
Wake Forest University School of Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program http://career.law.wfu.edu/alumni/lrap/
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Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
None.
Graduate Student Funded:
None.
Other Funding Sources:
None.
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Public Interest Research Fellowships (Community Law & Business Clinic)
Graduate Student Funded:
None.
Other Funding Sources:
None.
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
None.
Graduate Student Funded:
None.
Other Funding Sources:
PILO grants – Usually $2,000 for a 10 week summer placement or $1,000 for a summer placement that is less than 10 weeks. Grant amounts or the number of grants available may vary if funding sources fluctuate from year to year.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Public Interest Retreat
Student Public Interest Groups
Primary:
Public Interest Initiative
Public Interest Law Organization (PILO)
Student Groups with Significant Public Interest Focus:
Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF)
Youth Advocacy Group (YAG)
Teen Court
Phi Alpha Delta
Innocence Project (works on projects with the Winston-Salem-based Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice)
Guardian ad Litem (GAL)
Domestic Violence Advocacy Center (DVAC)
Civil Liberties Union
Environmental Law Society
