All projects require training, prior to participation, provided by the Pro Bono Program. Contact program staff for training dates.
Bankruptcy – This project pairs students with practicing bankruptcy attorneys to prepare filings in Chapter 7 cases.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisite: None
Time Commitment: 2 interview sessions plus follow-up per semester
Training: fall
Contact: Pam Mertsock-Wolfe (pmertsoc@camden.rutgers.edu)
Domestic Violence – The DV project gives students the unique opportunity to get hands on experience in domestic violence law. After completing a two part training as early as the first year of law school, students volunteer in the Domestic Violence Unit of the Camden County Family Court, where they assist victims of domestic violence in the process of completing complaints and obtaining temporary restraining orders.
Eligible Students: 1L (second semester), 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisite: None
Time Commitment: weekly shifts
Training: fall and spring
Contact: Anne Malgrave (ammullan@camden.rutgers.edu)
Federal Prisoner Re-entry – Volunteers help former inmates with civil legal problems under faculty supervision. Some 3Ls qualify for practice certification and represent clients in court.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisite: None, but only 3Ls and 4Ls who have completed Professional Responsibility and Evidence are eligible for practice certification
Time Commitment: cases as assigned
Training: fall
Contact: William McLaughlin (wmclaugh@camden.rutgers.edu)
Financial Literacy – Developed in partnership with the bankruptcy bench and bar, the Financial Literacy Project provides an opportunity for students to visit Camden-area high schools and other sites to teach students and adults about credit, credit cards, debt, budgeting, computer security and identity theft..
Eligible Students: 1L (second semester), 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisite: None. No prior substantive knowledge or teaching experience required
Time Commitment: flexible
Training: fall and spring
Contact: Jill Friedman (jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu)
Immigration – Trained law students provide immigration advice and general legal information to area immigrants and ESL families. Two tracks: (1) educational presentations; and (2) supervised one-on-one advice sessions.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisite: completion of introductory immigration course; Co-requisite: Professional
Responsibility
Time Commitment: flexible
Training: fall and spring
Contact: Jill Friedman (jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu)
Legal Services Project– A partnership with APALSA (but open to non-APALSA students), the Project pairs students with supervising attorneys from South Jersey Legal Services to conduct legal intake at Cathedral Kitchen. Students conduct follow-up research and assistance on poverty law cases.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre- or co-requisite: Professional Responsibility
Time Commitment: Approximately 6 hours every other week
Training: fall and spring
Contact: Jill Friedman (jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu)
Mediation – After 18-hour training course, students mediate and conciliate at Camden County Superior or Camden Municipal Court.
Eligible Students: 1L (second semester), 2L, 3L, 4L (by application)
Time Commitment: 6 mediation sessions, scheduled flexibly
Pre-requisite: None
Training: Spring (18 hours)
Contact: Pam Mertsock-Wolfe (pmertsoc@camden.rutgers.edu)
Pro Bono Research Project – Co-directed by Professor Sarah Ricks, this project provides free legal research to a broad variety of public interest law practitioners and private practitioners handling pro bono matters. Students, under faculty supervision, have the opportunity to hone their legal research and writing.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisite: None
Training: Individual supervision is provided
Contact: Eve Biskind Klothen (eklothen@camden.rutgers.edu) or Sarah Ricks (sricks@camden.rutgers.edu)
Street Law - Trained volunteers teach Camden-area kids about the law in their lives. Sessions, held at schools, detention centers, community sites, etc., are lively and interactive.
Eligible Students: 1L (second semester), 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisites: None. No substantive knowledge nor prior teaching experience is required.
Time Commitment: Flexible
Training: fall and spring
Contact: Jill Friedman (jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu)
VITA – Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. After training, students provide tax return assistance to low income Camden residents. Sessions are held at the Campus Center, serving several hundred clients per tax season.
Eligible Students: 1L (second semester), 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisites: None
Time Commitment: flexible
Training: Spring
Contact: Pam Mertsock-Wolfe (pmertsoc@camden.rutgers.edu)
Voters’ Rights – In collaboration with the Camden County Board of Elections, students work to increase voter registration and to monitor and resolve election day issues at polling stations.
Eligible Students: 1L, 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisites: None.
Time Commitment: Flexible
Training: fall
Contact: Eve Biskind Klothen (eklothen@camden.rutgers.edu)
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES (in collaboration with community legal partners)
Defender Project (Defender Association of Philadelphia) – Through the Defender Project, one student per semester assists with investigation, brief writing and research in death penalty cases.
Eligible Students: 3L, 4L (by application)
Pre-requisites: None
Time Commitment: Flexible
Training: Individual supervision is provided.
Contact: Eve Biskind Klothen (eklothen@camden.rutgers.edu)
PA Innocence Project – (Temple University Beasley School of Law) - A limited number of students per semester assist with investigation, research and writing in potential exoneration and mitigation cases.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L (by application)
Pre-requisites: None
Time Commitment: flexible
Training: Individual supervision is provided.
Contact: Eve Biskind Klothen (eklothen@camden.rutgers.edu)
Public Defender in Philadelphia – A limited number of students per semester assist with intake of criminal cases.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L
Pre-requisites: None
Time Commitment: Flexible
Training: Off-site training is provided in the fall
Contact: Eve Biskind Klothen (eklothen@camden.rutgers.edu)
Supervision to Aid Re-entry Program (“STAR”) - (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of PA) – Two students per semester assist with civil legal intake and supervision for former federal inmates in a judicially supervised re-entry program.
Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L(by application)
Co-requisites: Professional Responsibility
Time Commitment: Approximately 3.5 hours every other week
Training: fall and spring
Contact: Jill Friedman (jillfrie@camden.rutgers.edu)