|
|
Pro Bono Projects 
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)
Children’s SSI – Administered in partnership with South Jersey Legal Services, the Children’s SSI Project pairs students with attorneys in private practice to appeal denials of SSI benefits for disabled children. UMDNJ medical students are available to assist in interpretation of medical records. Eligible Students: 2L, 3L, 4L Pre-requisite: None Time Commitment: Cases as assigned Training: variable Contact: Pam Mertsock-Wolfe (pmertsoc@camden.rutgers.edu)
Cathedral Kitchen – 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)
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: Todd Berger (toberger@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)
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 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: Todd Berger (toberger@camden.rutgers.edu) |