University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law
University of Missouri
Kansas City School of Law
Room 1-204
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO
www.law.umkc.edu
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
William EckhardtClinical Professor & Director of Urban Affairs Outreach
816/235-2377
Eckhardtw@umkc.edu
Lynda Moore
Director Career Services
816/235-1669
moorelc@umkc.edu
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by a Referral System with a Coordinator
Description of Program
The Clinical Program and the Office of Career Services collaborate to assist students in volunteering with public interest law organizations. Each year there is a Volunteer Fair which gives public interest law organizations the opportunity to recruit students.
Volunteer opportunities - both law and non-law related -- are advertised by the Office of Career Services, the Law Clinic, faculty, the Student Affairs director and the Public Interest Law Association (PILA).
Location of Program
With Clinical Program
Staffing/Management/Oversight
A faculty and student Pro Bono Committee promotes public service programs and opportunities.
Funding
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
The Kansas City Tax Clinic - A project of the UMKC Graduate Tax Law Foundation with support from the UMKC School of Law. UMKC School of Law students in the LL.M. in Taxation program, the combined J.D./LL.M. in Taxation program, or other students with the permission of the director of the tax program, represent clients in tax controversy matters, under the supervision of the director and volunteer tax practitioners.
The Public Interest Litigation Clinic - The PILC is an independent organization located on the campus. It litigates and provides advice and research assistance to Missouri defense attorneys in capital punishment cases. The School's Death Penalty Clinic and the "Problems and Issues in the Death Penalty" course are taught in conjunction with the PILC, and the center's staff provides valuable resources for the students in those classes.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) - Students volunteer to help low income Kansas City Citizen's file their income taxes.
Midwestern Innocence Project Student Organization - The mission of the project is to support the efforts of the Midwestern Innocence Project through support and fundraising efforts.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Faculty member, Allen Rostron, serves as a faculty advisor for the Public Interest Law Association. Faculty members also serve on a Pro Bono/ Public Interest committee.
Awards/Recognition
Community Service
Community Service projects are promoted by the Director of Student Affairs, Career Services, faculty members and the Public Interest Law Association. Projects include:
- Christmas in October
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
- Election Day Poll Workers
- CASA Carnival Fundraiser
- Habitat for Humanity
- Association of Women Law Students raises money for cancer
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Lynda MooreDirector Career Services
816/235-1669
moorelc@umkc.edu
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
Public Interest Centers
Public Interest Clinics
- Child and Family Services Clinic, Tax Clinic
- Guardian Ad Litem Workshop
- Death Penalty Clinic
- Department of Labor Clinic
- Environmental Law Clinic
- Jackson County Prosecutor's Clinic
- Legal Aid Clinic
- Missouri Attorney General Clinic
- NLRB Clinic, Public Defender Trial Clinic
- Social Security Administration Clinic
- U.S. Attorney's Office Clinic
Externships/Internships
Federal Public Defender Externship Clinic, Judicial Clerkships
Classes with a Public Service Component
- Children and the Law
- Employment Discrimination Law
- Civil Rights, Environmental Law
- Estate Planning and Drafting
- Gender and Justice
- International Human Rights Law
- Race and the Law Seminar, and various constitutional law courses
Public Interest Journals
- Urban Lawyer
- Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Public Interest Career Assistance
Career Services Office assists students in finding public interest jobs
Career Services also has a Student Position that researches opportunities in Public Interest and distributes information to students
Students are provided access to websites such as PSLAW and Equal Justice Works
Career Services posts opportunities on Job Board
Career Services sponsors panels on public interest topics
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
Post-Graduate Fellowships/Awards
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Term Time Fellowships/Scholarships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Summer Fellowships
Law School Funded:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Public Interest Law Association Stipend. The Stipend goes to a member of the organization who takes a summer position working in public interest for no pay. To be eligible student members must also fulfill a community service project requirement. This program encourages students to participate in community service projects and also to take internships in the Public Interest field.
Extracurricular and Co-Curricular Programs
Career Services sponsors panels with speakers on various issues concerning students interested in public interest work
The Public Interest Law Association(PILA) has monthly meetings with speakers from various Public Interest Organizations to discuss opportunities
Career Services and PILA sponsor a volunteer fair every year for organizations to seek out volunteers and interns for public interest work
Student Public Interest Groups
- Public Interest Law Association
- Pro Bono/Public Interest Committee (students are chosen to work on committee with Pro Bono/Public Interest Committee Faculty members to help improve programs at the school)
- Midwestern Innocence Project Student Organization
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
- Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
- National Lawyer's Guild
- Constitutional Law Society
- Federalist Society
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Animal Law Society
- Environmental Law Society
- Family Law Society
- International Law Society
- Association of Women Law Students
- Black Law Students Association
- Hispanic Law Student Association
- Outlaws
- Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association
- Christian Legal Society
- Jewish Law Student Association
Last updated: 11/15/2006
