Pepperdine University Odell McConnell Law Center
Pepperdine University
Odell McConnell Law Center
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
law.pepperdine.edu
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Selina Farrell
Assistant Dean of Career Development
selina.farrell@pepperdine.edu
(310) 506-4665
Laurie Buchan
Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor of Law
laurie.buchan@pepperdine.edu
310/506-7449
Category Type
Formal Voluntary Pro Bono Program Characterized by Administrative Support for Student Group Projects
Description of Program
Students are encouraged to volunteer with existing clinical and externship placements. The Union Rescue Mission Clinic uses a lot of student and faculty volunteers. The Clinical Education Programs Office facilitates a Public Counsel's Adoption Day. Students under the supervision of attorneys provide free legal representation to people adopting children who have been neglected and/or abused and are currently in the foster care system.
Location of Program
With Clinical and Externship Programs and Office of Career Services
Staffing/Management/Oversight
The clinical and career services staff are salaried employees of the law school.
Funding
Administrative assistance, such as typing and mailing, is provided for faculty pro bono projects.
Student Run Pro Bono Groups/Specialized Law Education Projects
Advocates for Public Interest Law – Silent and live auction put on by APRIL to raise scholarship money to encourage public interest work in the summer.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
Awards/Recognition
Students are awarded a Dean's Award when they participate in volunteer pro bono or community service.
Community Service
Law School Public Interest Programs
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Contact Information
Selina Farrell
Assistant Dean of Career Development
selina.farrell@pepperdine.edu
(310) 506-4665
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
None
Public Interest Centers
Institute on Law, Religion, and Ethics - http://law.pepperdine.edu/ilre/
Public Interest Clinics
Dispute Resolution Clinic
Family Law Clinic –
Pepperdine Legal Aid Clinic at the Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission –
Special Education Clinic –
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, http://www.lafla.org
Children's Law Center of Los Angeles, http://www.clcla.org
International Justice Mission, http://www.ijm.org
The Alliance for Children's Rights, http://www.alliance.org
Special Education Advocacy Clinic, http://law.pepperdine.edu/clinical/special_education_advocacy_clinic/
Bet Tzedek Legal Services, http://www.bettzedek.org
El Rescate, http://www.elrescate.org
Adoption Law Group
Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law, http://www.hbcfl.org/
Pepperdine participates in the yearly UCLA Public Interest Career Day held in February. More than 100 students registered for the event this year.
The school also participates in Loyola's Government Career Day held in February.
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
Micheal Bidart Summer Stipend made available through endowed funding. Students selected and money disbursed through the Clinical Education Programs Office.
Tuition waivers totaling approximately $23,000 are granted to students working at public interest agencies during the summer.
Graduate Student Funded:
Other Funding Sources:
The Advocates for Public Interest Law raise funds through an student run auction. Administration matches the funds raised. Money given to students for summer pro bono work.
Public Counsel, http://www.publiccounsel.org
None
None
Students receive extensive counseling with respect to potential Public Interest opportunities and are provided information on summer funding sources and on possible fellowships and Equal Justice Works grants. More students participated in UCLA's Public Interest Career Day than ever before, with an increasing number of students receiving job offers in public service, community and human rights related work. The Career Development Office also encourages students to attend out of area Job Fairs focused on Public Interest opportunities.
For a description see: http://law.pepperdine.edu/admissions/financial_aid/18loan_forgiveness_programs.html
Law School Funded:
Law School Funded:
Law School Funded:
Public Counsel's Adoption Project
Advocates for Public Interest Law – (A) Provides Pepperdine students with opportunities for community service; (B) Makes students aware of career opportunities in public interest law; (C) Works to provide funding for students who wish to pursue careers in public interest law;(D) Encourages students to make pro bono work a part of their careers; and (E) Educates students with regard to the different areas of public interest law and its importance in the legal field
