Creighton University School of Law
Creighton University
School of Law
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
law.creighton.edu/
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Carla DeVelder
Associate Dean for Student Services
carladevelder@creighton.edu
Category Type
Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with no school-wide program
Description of Program
Pro bono and community service activities are sponsored or coordinated by the career development office, the student services office, and student-run organizations. Administration collaborates with student organizations to coordinate and advertise pro bono activities.
Location of Program
Staffing/Management/Oversight
Funding
Student groups are given limited office space within the law school and general office equipment is available to these groups. Copy services are available as is assistance from staff and administration.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
The Public Interest Law Forum promotes awareness within the legal community of the problems of the under-represented and works to serve the needs of the underprivileged within the community. PILF encourages and supports internships and careers in public interest and actively volunteers to assist in any possible phase of legal representation of those who would otherwise be unable to obtain remedies for violations of their rights.
Other organizations, whose mission is not directly related to pro bono service, regularly support pro bono activities through programming, pro bono projects, and fundraising.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
There is no formal faculty pro bono policy. Faculty and administration serve as advisors to student-run groups and participate in individual pro bono projects.
Awards/Recognition
Annual award presented at graduation to the student who was outstanding in the field of public interest.
Community Service
The Office of Student Services plans community service opportunities for the law students including a Habitat for Humanity Build, a community service project as part of the first year orientation program, and other opportunities for service throughout the year. Student run organizations offer a variety of service projects including Toys for Tots, Angel Tree, and participation in the University wide Project Homeless Connect.
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Carla DeVelder
Associate Dean for Student Services
carladevelder@creighton.edu
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Public Interest Centers
Public Interest Clinics
The Civil Law Clinicoffers free legal assistance on civil matters to low-income residents of Douglas County, Nebraska. The clinic operates as a small law firm, staffed by law students under the supervision of the Clinic Director, Professor Catherine Mahern, Connie Kearney Chair in Clinical Legal Education
.The Community Economic Development (CED) Clinic is committed to encouraging economic growth and stability within under-served communities in Nebraska, while providing third-year law students a clinical experience. The focus of the CED Clinic is on Non-Profit Organizations, Micro-Enterprise Business and Community Asset Protection. The Clinic is run by Milo Alexander.
Externships/Internships
Creighton offers a number of externships. For information, see http://www.creighton.edu/law/academics/curriculum/externships/index.php.
Classes with a Public Service Component
Public Interest Journals
Public Interest Career Assistance
Services include- Individualized public interest counseling.
- Public interest resource research assistance.
- Job posting public interest.
- Coordinate to Equal Justice Works Career Fair in Washington, D.C., Midwest Public Interest Career Conference and Nebraska Diversity Summit.
- Provide support to on-campus, student-run public interest groups.
- Announce and advertise nationwide public interest related job fairs, retreats, seminars and programs .
- Active recruitment of public interest employers for OCI.
- Integration of public interest/public sector in legal career panels.
- Arrange presentations by local public interest attorneys and organizations.
- Participate in regional public interest job fairs and retreats.
- Organize judicial clerkship programming.
- Organize and provide practice interview programs.
- Provide resource center with numerous library resources dedicated to public interest topics.
- Member of several major public interest organizations (e.g. NALP, PSLawNet, Equal Justice Works).
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
The Law School offers the Robert J. Kutak Loan Repayment Assistance Program, made possible by donations from generous alumni of the Law School. The program is intended to ease the financial burden of recent Law School graduates who are employed in public interest law positions and have accumulated significant debt from educational loans. Completed applications are typically due June 1 of every year and more information can be found at http://www.creighton.edu/law/careers/resourcesforalumni/loanrepaymentassistanceprogram/index.php.
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Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
Annual award to graduating senior providing outstanding service to the community
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Harold Rock Scholarship Fund - Established by Harold Rock for a third year student who must be registered to work in the Legal Clinic.
Other Funding Sources:
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
20 – 25 students funded yearly with funding provided by student fund raisers and the law school
Graduate Student Funded:
Two-three summer fellowships.
Other Funding Sources:
Twenty-forty summer fellowships (University work-study funds).
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Public Interest Law Week - During this week the PILF organization and Law School highlight individuals working in public interest, sponsor lectures and provide career information.
Student Public Interest Groups
Public Interest Law Forum
