Category: Pro Bono / Community Service

The Clemency Project seeks students to assist low-income clients with filing pardon applications with the governor. Law students interview the clients and assist the clients with completing the pardon application. Volunteers must attend monthly case meetings to participate in the project. If you are interested in volunteering, or would like more information, please contact Professor Joann Sahl, jsahl1@uakron.edu.

This is a great opportunity for 3rd year students seeking pro bono limited means hours!!! All student volunteers are welcome!

Bankruptcy Project:  The Jerome L. Holub Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project is a collaborative project between the Akron Bar Association, Community Legal Aid, and the law school.  Students will receive substantive training on bankruptcy law.  With attorney supervision, students get hands-on experience preparing case files for simple no-asset Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petitions.  Students may also have an opportunity to prepare bankruptcy petitions, attend bankruptcy hearings, and assist volunteer attorneys who accept a pro bono bankruptcy case.  An interest in practicing bankruptcy law is not necessary; the skills learned are transferrable to many areas of law. 

The Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP) at Community Legal Aid is seeking volunteer law students who are interested in developing skills in the following areas:  client interviewing, client meetings, legal research, case management, drafting advice letters, and preparing Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitions.  Students are asked to commit 8-10 hours a week to the project, preferably in one full or two half days per week. Students who volunteer will receive Pro Bono/Limited Means hours that count toward the graduation requirement.

For additional information, or to volunteer, contact Ms. Cindy Adair of Community Legal Aid Services at  cadair@communitylegalaid.org or at 330-983-2695 EXT 2534.

Two friendly reminders:

1. All pro bono and community service hours completed this summer must be reported no later than Friday, September 28^th. Remember you are now only required to turn in your Certification of Supervisor forms to Professor Joann Sahl or Alisa Benedict O’Brien (no online reporting required.)

2. If you have not yet completed your pro bono limited means hours, National Pro Bono Week is approaching and there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities. Please read the blog postings and volunteer!

Attention Students Graduating in May 2013!

There are over 100 students in your class who have not yet registered for the mandatory Pro Bono Service Requirement course with Professor Joann Sahl (one credit), which must be completed this fall or spring prior to your graduation. If you have completed your pro bono/community service hours already, or your requirement will be met after your volunteer work this summer is reported, please consider registering for the Pro Bono Service Requirement course for the fall. If you are unsure of your current reported hours, please contact Alisa Benedict O’Brien at ab139@uakron.edu.

Also, please remember that all 30 hours must be completed by April 1^st in order to graduate.