by Karen Millard
Director of Florida Coastal School of Law Pro Bono Program
Fostering volunteerism in the next generation of attorneys
While many people and institutions in these economically challenging times are focusing on self-preservation, a lot of the students and faculty at Florida Coastal School of Law (FCSL) believe it’s more important than ever to be looking outward and finding opportunities to help serve others.
In the past academic year, FCSL students completed over 21,000 hours of pro bono work in Jacksonville and the world at-large.
“It’s a win-win situation. Performing pro bono work helps law students develop an awareness of their ethical and professional responsibilities to provide service to their community,” said FCSL professor Karen Millard, director of the school’s Pro Bono Program. “Participation in the program provides students with the opportunity to perform valuable community service while both learning about the legal needs of the underserved and developing the legal skills and gaining the experience necessary to help meet those needs.”
The volunteer hours at FCSL are even more impressive when you consider, unlike many other more established law schools, FCSL’s pro bono program is strictly voluntary. And with the time demands placed on the lives of law students, Millard knows that making such a selfless commitment is not an easy task.
“When I was in law school, I was a lot more concerned with law review and moot court than I was with pro bono work,” Millard said. “I remember the struggle that I faced to find a balance.”
But when she graduated, she said, she realized something was missing, and so today she is one of the leading proponents of FCSL’s pro bono efforts.
“It isn’t easy for law students,” she said. “For our students to be able to balance having a family life- if they even have one anymore- their studies, school activities, a law school career and perhaps even a job, and then to volunteer on top of that? That’s just a tremendous amount of dedication.”
Diana Hansard, a third-year law student from Atlanta, is the student co-director of the FCSL Pro Bono Department, and pro bono chair of president of the International Law Student Association, and director of the sub-committee for Amnesty International. She has also sworked in the Family Law Division of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) where she acquired an acute appreciation of pro bono work.
“Last summer with JALA’s Family Law Unit was the most rewarding experience I’ve had thus far,” she says. “We had a lot of clients come in who were dealing with very personal issues matters including: domestic violence, difficult divorces and family issues. Some of them were so distraught, and they just didn’t realize that all they had to do was fill out two or three forms. It was very rewarding to be able to help them along in the process and make a difference in their lives. It reminded me of why I want to become an attorney.”
FCSL also offers multiple clinics In addition to its Pro Bono Program. In the clinics, students receive guidance and supervision from full-time faculty members who are members of the Florida Bar. These clinics include family and child advocacy, family law, consumer law, immigration rights and housing rights. It also conducts free clinics in family, landlord-tenant and consumer law.
FCSL also funds over 25 student groups with each one focused on helping some specific segment of the community, country or world.
“Although a lot of student organizations at other law schools have mandatory minimums that they have to complete, we tend to go above and beyond at Florida Coastal School of Law,”said Travis Sumter, a second-year law student from Columbia, S.C. Travis has gone above and beyond in his work as a president of FCSL’s Black Law Students Association chapter, and also as an intern with Holland & Knight’s Community Services Team. To date, Travis has already rendered over 200 hours to pro bono efforts throughout the Jacksonville Community.
Travis currently serves as the Attorney General for the Southern Region of the National Black Law Students Association, which is composed of over 1,900 students from over 40 chapters in nine states and the Common Wealth of Puerto Rico. Last semester, FCSL’s chapter was named “Regional Chapter of the Year,” and also received an NAACP award for its commitment to giving back to others through community service. Travis has also been awarded a fellowship to work with the American Civil Liberties Union in the spring of 2009.
“For me, pro bono and public interest work is definitely my priority,” he said. “I want to serve my community, partly because I came from an area that was underprivileged, and partly because I’m the first male in my family to get a higher education degree. No matter what career path I take, I want to continually be in a position to serve those that are underserved and underprivileged in today’s society.”
Patrice Falzone, a third-year law student who is student co-director of the Pro Bono Department and president of the Coastal Association of Public Interest Law, admits that her drive is a selfish one.
“It just makes me happy. I can go help someone and it makes me feel really good, and it makes other people happy,” said Patrice. “And throughout my career, I would like to think that I can keep that same mentality and not think, ‘Oh, I have to volunteer this month to meet my pro bono requirements.’ I don’t think of it as a requirement, but more as a blessing, really, to be able to do that.”
And it’s also satisfying for the numerous organizations that these well-trained law students are able to provide assistance to.
In addition to JALA, FCSL students have helped organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Three Rivers Legal Services, Jacksonville Humane Society, Sulzbacher Homeless Center, Habijax for Humanity, BigBrothers/Big Sisters, Hubbard House, Family Nurturing Center, and Volunteer Jacksonville.
FCSL will be hosting its Fall Forum at the end of October. It is an event where organizations meet with students and see where they can help each other.
Any attorneys interested in finding a pro bono opportunity that is both rewarding and manageable should pick up information at the Pro Bono Opportunities Fair at the JBA Luncheon on September 16th at the Hyatt in downtown Jacksonville. Attorneys may also contact the Jacksonville Bar Association’s, Pro Bono Committee Chairperson, Kathy Para, at [email protected] or call (904) 356-8371, ext. 363, for pro bono opportunity information. ITALICS-Pro bono that’s manageable. Pro bono that matters.