“Lawyers have a license to practice law, a monopoly on certain services. But for that privilege and status, lawyers have an obligation to provide legal services to those without the wherewithal to pay, to respond to needs outside themselves, to help repair tears in their communities.”
– U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (March 2014)
The AJMLS Pro Bono Program is a Formal Voluntary Program that is managed by the Office of Experiential Learning and Pro Bono Programs. This program is designed to give students the freedom to find and volunteer for pro bono opportunities (must meet the pro bono definition) on their own. To help students with their pro bono interests, the office maintains a list of pro bono organizations and opportunities that students can use to help them as well as a list of AJMLS-specific programs.
Process
- Students find a pro bono activity/organization of interest
- Students contact the organization directly to learn if volunteer opportunities exist and how they can volunteer
- Students enter their hours into 12Twenty
Mission
The AJMLS Pro Bono Program reinforces the mission of the law school – promoting the development of a student body and faculty with a strong social conscious and dedication to improving the legal system and society.
Pro Bono Programs
Pro Bono Organizations and Resources
This list is only a starting point. All students have the freedom to find their own pro bono experience and are encouraged to also seek opportunities outside of this list.
Students MUST contact the organization or pro bono opportunity of interest directly to learn how they can volunteer.
Organizations
Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Catholic Charities of Atlanta
Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.
Clayton County Pro-Bono Project
Cobb Justice Foundation
Dekalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Georgia Advocacy Office
Georgia Asylum & Immigration Network
Georgia Innocence Project
Georgia Justice Project
Georgia Law Center for the Homeless
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
Georgia Legal Services Program
Pro-Bono Partnership Atlanta
Websites
www.celebrateprobono.org
www.probono.net/network/volunteer/
www.atlantabar.org/page/OLRProBono
https://www.legalaidprobono.org/
AJMLS Programs
Department of Community Affairs (DCA) – Hearing Officer
Commitment: serve at least one day per quarter.
Duties: To serve as an impartial “judge” to review terminations of HCV program participants; to ensure that DCA is in compliance with HUD rules and the DCA Administrative Plan; to ensure that participants who are terminated have an opportunity to be heard.
Street Law at Forest Park High School (spring semester)
12 week program of law-related education for high school students which ends with a Mock Trial held at a local courthouse. Students can sign-up for individual sessions.
Homeless Veterans Legal Clinic (continuous)
The Clinic is open every second Friday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and is open to homeless Veterans receiving services at the Atlanta VA Health Care Center. The services provided are for veterans with legal problems, which may include but are not limited to misdemeanors, that adversely affect the stability of the homeless Veterans.
Young Litigators Project (fall and spring semesters)
Students mentor and coach high school students for a Mock Trial (Trial- Voting Rights).
What is Pro Bono Work?
- PRO BONO is service that is law-related work that renders meaningful service to a legal non-profit organization or a person of limited means. Ex. Legal Aid society, public defender’s office, student org/events with a legal component.
- PUBLIC INTEREST is work that includes service to groups or organizations seeking to secure or protect civil rights, civil liberties or public rights. Ex. District Attorney’s Office, Government Agencies, Administrative Advocacy.
October is Pro Bono Month
AJMLS encourages everyone (students, faculty, staff) to answer the call by doing Pro Bono service throughout the month of October. Contact the pro bono opportunity or organization of your choice directly to learn how you can volunteer!
Pro Bono Awards
Below are the awards available for AJMLS students to earn. At the end of the year, the graduates with the most volunteer hours are recognized at graduation and celebrated during the academic year.
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award
This award is given to the graduate whose pro bono work has demonstrated outstanding commitment to legal services for underserved communities and their work was impactful.
Excellence In Pro Bono Service Award
This award is given to any graduating student who is in the top 10% of total pro bono hours accumulated during their law school career.
Pro Bono Distinction Award
This distinction is given to students who have completed 75 hours or more of pro bono work during their law school career.
Contact Us
| Team | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.L. Wyatt-Keyton, Ph.D. | Executive Director of Career Services and Professional Development | jwyatt@johnmarshall.edu | (678) 916-2612 |
| Angela Sumpter | Career Services and Professional Development Coordinator | asumpter@johnmarshall.edu | (678) 916-2677 |