Pro Bono Program

Volunteer Opportunities

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AIM - Attendance Improvement Mediation

Studies have shown that early intervention in schools is the key to success when dealing with truants. Trained volunteers will meet with parents, school officials and students to help develop and implement a positive solution to a common problem. This is an excellent opportunity for law students to practice the skills that are key to becoming a successful attorney.

Training: 30 total hours; application

CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates

Volunteers are appointed to appear in Family Court on behalf of children in abuse and neglect cases. Working with the Richland County CASA Project, students act as unbiased representatives for the child; conduct confidential investigations; assist in preparing a plan of action; with the aid of the child's attorney see that all pertinent information is heard by the court; help coordinate suitable social services and ensure educational continuity.

Training: 15 hours of initial training, ongoing in-service training and observation of a family court hearing; application; criminal record check

THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PRO BONO RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROJECT

The Environmental Law Pro Bono Research and Monitoring Project is a collaboration between the University of South Carolina Pro Bono Program, the Conservation Voters of South Carolina and other environmental advocacy organizations. Law students have several options for participation in this project including: attending and monitoring legislative committee meetings or state agency hearings (events), conducting research on pending bills or legislative proposals or shadowing a lobbyist representing a SC non-profit as they communicate with the relevant decision makers over each specific issue or topic.

Training: On the job.

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC

Volunteers will assist with administrative duties such as interviewing new patients, gathering financial information, preparing new files, and converting patient charts to a new system. Spanish translators are also needed. If you are a medical doctor, nurse or pharmacist there are opportunities to fit those skills. In the future there will be special projects with this organizations that provides health care to low-income clients with no medical insurance.

Training: 1 hour orientation and application; volunteers are asked to select a regular time and date to serve.

HARVEST HOPE FOOD BANK

Volunteer law students may assist in two manners; one is in a variety of positions with the semi- annual food drives and another can be on the Friday afternoon work sessions at the Food Bank. The Friday work sessions will include a range of tasks that may include sorting food or packing bags.

Training: On the job.

HELP-Homeless Legal Clinic

Collaboration between a number of community organizations and the Richland County Bar Association has resulted in this effort to assist the homeless population in the Greater Columbia area. Legal clinics will be held once a month. Law student volunteers may serve in several positions: law clerk for the on-site volunteer attorneys and translators on an as needed basis.

Training: To be determined; Law clerks will be on-site for two hours and may have follow up work.

LEXINGTON COUNTY JUVENILE ARBITRATION PROGRAM

Permits the first time offender to purge their record from the system by completing a set of requirements set forth by a volunteer arbitrator. Law Students will serve as arbitrators conducting hearings for juveniles and will monitor their progress in meeting the requirements set forth in the arbitration. Usually assigned one case at a time requiring approximately a total of 8 hours.

Training: 18 hours; application; criminal record check

LITERACY PROJECT

With 12 hours of training law students will be certified in the Laubach method of teaching reading skills to illiterate persons Working through the Greater Columbia Literacy Council volunteers will be matched with students on a schedule meeting their individual needs. There is a small fee to defray the costs of the training material. Volunteers are also needed to teach English as a second language.

Training: 12 hours, two nights a week, offered monthly

LOGAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TUTORING

Law students tutor one hour a week with a local elementary school whose students are in serious need of educational assistance One hour a week makes all the difference in test scores and competence. Tutoring is usually in reading but math and other subjects may be needed. Logan Elementary School is convenient to the Law School.

Training: None, application and criminal record check

PROJECT AYUDA: Law Students Helping the Hispanic Community

Volunteers assist the Hispanic community by providing information about legal and non-legal issues, connecting with attorneys, and locating resources where Spanish is spoken. Volunteers also translate a limited number of documents. Many volunteer students use this opportunity to practice their Spanish; but fluency is not a requirement

Training: Research skills needed

PUBLIC DEFENDERS' OFFICES

Law students provide research, monitor court proceedings and assist in case preparation with attorneys who represent SC's indigent population in criminal matters. Volunteering may take place in the Richland or Lexington County offices.

Training: Research skills needed

SC ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMISSION

The mission of the SC Access to Justice Commission is to expand access to civil legal representation for South Carolinians with low or moderate means. Law student volunteers will assist with research, intake and on special projects.

Training: Research skills; on the job training

SC APPLESEED LEGAL JUSTICE CENTER

Assistance in the research and preparation of material for attorney training and case litigation. Issues are those affecting the indigent population and range from bankruptcy, adoption, divorce, Social Security, Medicaid, landlord-tenant, consumer debt, to housing. Research on specific cases may also be available with local Legal Services offices.

Training: Individual, under the supervision of a SC licensed attorney; possible independent projects.

SC BAR PRO BONO PROGRAM

Students will be involved in research on specific Pro Bono cases. Students will be assigned directly to a pro bono attorney. Research requests may also result from questions posed by Committees or Sections. Skilled speakers and readers of a foreign language may also volunteer to be part of a language bank. This bank is available to attorneys working on Pro Bono cases.

Training: Research skills needed. Foreign language option

SC DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Volunteers will conduct research and assist the Departments staff attorneys on emerging issues that affect SC's consumer population. These issues include identity theft, mortgage fraud, debt collection, vehicle sales & service, credit problems. Another service opportunity includes interviewing consumers who have requested assistance from the Department.

Training: On the job

SC DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE

Volunteers will serve as mentors, tutors or sports coaches to at-risk juveniles in DJJ custody. Another major component involves teaching a 10 session course, "Choices: Legal Awareness Sessions of Juveniles". This can be taught as part of a team or as an individual.

Training: 1hr DJJ Orientation, application for all volunteers; 4 hours of training for Choices

SC OFFICE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE- APPELLATE DIVISION

The Appellate Division represents indigent criminal defendants who seek appellate review of their convictions from the Court of General Sessions. Student activities include research, field interviewing and legal drafting. This Office provides a unique opportunity to obtain hands on experience to those students interested in criminal law or post conviction relief.

Training: Individual, supervision by SC attorney

TEAM ADVOCACY

Team Advocacy is a project of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. (P&A) Trained volunteers, working with staff from P&A, conduct unannounced inspections of SC community residential care facilities. During these inspections volunteers will interview residents seeking information about care, possible abuse and neglect or financial exploitation and available services. The Team report is filed with the appropriate authorities for follow up needed action. Volunteers can assist anywhere in SC.

Training: individual basis; application

VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE)

Sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service to help older, handicapped, non-English speaking or low income taxpayers who need assistance and for whom professional tax preparation may be out of reach. Volunteers assist with basic tax returns. A tax coordinator is available to handle difficult questions or returns. Law School tax courses are NOT required.

Training: Self-study course and online exam

OTHER PROJECTS

The Pro Bono Program encourages students to become involved in other special projects that need volunteer help. Many of these projects require no special training and others only need volunteers on a sporadic basis. This list of projects is ever evolving. For up-to-date information contact the Director, any Board member or check on the Pro Bono Program homepage.

To volunteer with any project submit a Volunteer Enrollment Form.