Empowerment, Innovation, and Service: Law School Programs Provide Access to Justice and Instill a Commitment to Serve

Family Court Review, Vol. 48, No. 4, p. 672, October 2010

13 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2012

See all articles by Dale Margolin Cecka

Dale Margolin Cecka

Albany Law School

Steven K. Berenson

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Lisa V. Martin

University of South Carolina School of Law

Karen Pearlman Raab

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law

Maryann Zavez

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: October 1, 2010

Abstract

Law schools around the country seek to fill the legal needs of their communities in ways that are both innovative and mutually beneficial to clients and students. This article describes five pro bono and clinical programs, at the University of Richmond School of Law, The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University, Catholic University Columbus School of Law, the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and Vermont Law School, where law students, under the supervision of law professors or community professionals, provide assistance or legal representation to underserved and often marginalized populations needing help with family law problems, including parents accused of abuse and neglect, youth aging out of foster care, homeless families, survivors of domestic violence, homeless veterans with addiction problems, and female prisoners. To develop their programs, the five law schools from the outset collaborated with partners in the community, and they continue to do so as their programs expand and evolve. In addition to helping and empowering clients, these law schools are providing experiential learning opportunities that are transformative for their students. The authors hope that these programs will be instructive for law schools, other academic institutions, the legal community, and community organizations in developing creative collaborations to ensure better access to justice.

Keywords: clinic, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, family law, innovative, direct representation, holistic, underserved

Suggested Citation

Cecka, Dale Margolin and Berenson, Steven K. and Martin, Lisa V. and Pearlman Raab, Karen and Zavez, Maryann, Empowerment, Innovation, and Service: Law School Programs Provide Access to Justice and Instill a Commitment to Serve (October 1, 2010). Family Court Review, Vol. 48, No. 4, p. 672, October 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2015684

Dale Margolin Cecka (Contact Author)

Albany Law School ( email )

80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
United States

Steven K. Berenson

Thomas Jefferson School of Law ( email )

701 B Street
Suite 110
San Diego, CA 92101
United States
619-961-4205 (Phone)

Lisa V. Martin

University of South Carolina School of Law ( email )

1525 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29208
United States

Karen Pearlman Raab

Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law ( email )

3320 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.earlemacklaw.drexel.edu/academics/pro-bono/

Maryann Zavez

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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