There are multiple opportunities for law students to do pro bono work at UW Law School. Below is a list of current and upcoming projects. Check back frequently for additional opportunities!
Students,
legal services organizations and attorneys are also encouraged to create
additional opportunities. To learn more, go to Initiating a
Project.
Current and Upcoming Projects:
Easter Seals Wisconsin
Easter Seals Wisconsin
101 Nob Hill Road, Suite 301
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 237-1979
Since 1926, Easter Seals Wisconsin has been creating life-changing solutions for individuals with disabilities and their families. Whether providing recreational opportunities for children, respite care for families, helping farmers continue to farm after a disabling accident or illness, or helping children and adults with disabilities gain greater independence in everyday living, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to address life’s challenges and to help individuals achieve personal goals. The mission of Easter Seals is to improve the quality of lives of children and adults with disabilities.
Under attorney supervision, students will provide legal counseling in the preparation of financial and health care powers of attorney to aging and disabled individuals who are not able to afford legal help in this area. Students will be trained to understand the potential complexity of these documents, learning effective client interviewing techniques and document drafting skills.
Number of student volunteers requested: 2
Project start date: Immediate.
Project end date: Indefinite.
Approximate hours of work requested: 4-8 hours/week
Training: 2-3 hours of training will be provided on: basic client interview techniques, basic will forms and power of attorney for financial documents. Students will be provided with copies of materials for review.
Work will be performed: At Easter Seals Wisconsin (address above). Some off-site work may be possible.
Transportation: Bus transportation is available (40 minute trip), but a personal vehicle would be helpful.
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome. Students should have an interest in working with persons who are aging and/or disabled and who have very limited economic resources.
To apply: Submit a resume and cover letter to supervising attorney Julie Short at jshort@eastersealswisconsin.com.
Tenant Resource Center
1202 Williamson Street, Suite 102
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 257-0143
The Tenant Resource Center is a nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to promoting positive relations between rental housing consumers and providers throughout Wisconsin. By providing information and referrals, education about rental rights and responsibilities, and access to conflict resolution, the Tenant Resource Center empowers the community to obtain and maintain quality affordable housing.
Students will provide pro bono service at the Tenant Resource Center as Volunteer Housing Counselors. Volunteer Housing Counselors will provide free legal education to tenants and landlords about their rental rights and responsibilities in Wisconsin, connect them with other TRC projects such as the Housing Help Desk and Housing Mediation Service, and refer to other agencies that can help clients solve their rental problems.Number of student volunteers requested: 1-5
Project start date: March 10th, 2012
Project end date: Upon completion of one full year.
Hours of work requested: 160+ (At least 3 hours/week for one year.)
Training: Students will be trained in federal, state, and local housing laws and will shadow experienced volunteers while they counsel clients. A mandatory 8-hour training session took place on Saturday, March 10th. Contact Anders Zanichkowsky (anderstrc@gmail.com) for future training dates.
Work will be performed: At the Tenant Resource Center (address above).
Transportation: Bus transportation is available.
Required skills: Spanish and other language skills preferred.
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome.
To apply: Submit a cover letter by email to Anders Zanichkowsky (anderstrc@gmail.com). Minimum commitment is 3 hours/week for one year.
Student Hurricane Network Spring Break Trip
Student Hurricane Network
President: Jennifer Cunha
jcunha@wisc.edu
(630) 696-5502
The Student Hurricane Network (SHN) is a law student organization dedicated to providing legal assistance to low-income and indigent victims of major natural disasters. As least once a year, students travel to a location in the United States that has recently suffered from a major natural disaster. During this trip, students clerk full-time for local non-profits assisting direct and indirect victims of the disaster with legal issues arising out of the disaster, including access to public benefits, employment, housing, patient dumping, and discharge of pre-disaster financial obligations.
During spring break 2012, SHN plans to travel to New Orleans as well as Joplin, Missouri. Clerkship locations include AIDSLaw of Louisiana and Legal Aid of Western Missouri. Expected tasks include: intake interviewing; legal research and memo-writing; client-counseling and case evaluation; and, drafting or updating legal information brochures and practice manuals.
Students will pay $50.00 to attend this trip and volunteer a week of their spring break. SHN will transport students to and from the trip location and cover lodging costs during trip week. Students are responsible for their own food and entertainment costs. Students will receive no academic credit or compensation.
Number of student volunteers requested: 10-14
Project start date: April 2nd, 2012
Project end date: April 6th, 2012
Approximate hours of work requested: 40 hours
Training: Students will be trained by SHN prior to departure in addition to on-site training by attorneys at each host organization.
Work will be performed: On-site in New Orleans, Louisiana and Joplin, Missouri.
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome.
To apply: Interested students should contact SHN President, Jennifer Cunha at jcunha@wisc.edu. Application period begins February 1st, 2012.
Application Deadline: February 22nd, 2012
Voter Registration Project
UW Law School Student Bar Association (SBA)
975 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53703
UW Law School Pro Bono Program
975 Bascom Mall, Room 1348
Madison, WI 53703
The city of Madison clerk’s office is seeking people to serve as special registration deputies to provide assistance to students and area residents as they exercise their right to vote in upcoming elections. In response, the SBA and the Pro Bono Program are hosting a series of voter registration drives beginning the week of January 23, 2012.
The spring primary is set for February 21st, 2012, with the spring general election to follow on April 3rd, 2012. The fall primary will be held on August 14th, 2012, with the general election on November 6th, 2012.
Under state law, any qualified elector can serve as a special registration deputy. To qualify, individuals must have completed an approved training program within the last two years.
Number of student volunteers requested: Indefinite
Project Start Date: Immediate
Project End Date: Ongoing through October 2012.
Approximate hours of work requested: Attend as many drives as desired in 3 hour increments.
Training: To register voters, volunteers must be trained and licensed as Special Registration Deputies through the City of Madison, which involves viewing a ten minute video and submitting the requisite paperwork as directed on the City clerk’s website, at http://www.cityofmadison.com/election/deputyRegistration/what.cfm.
Work will be performed: Drive locations will vary, but include the UW Law School, Goodman Community Center, and Villager Mall.
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome.
To participate: Contact Paul Blalock at pblalock@wisc.edu once you have registered to get more information about when the drives will take place. Please visit the Pro Bono Program website or contact Ann Zimmerman for information on how to report pro bono hours for recognition through the Pro Bono Program.
Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups Elder Law Center
2850 Dairy Drive
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 221-6120
The mission of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) is “To improve the quality of life for people of all ages through: inter-generational understanding and leadership development, public education, legal and legislative advocacy, and public development.” This mission is supported through the several ongoing services and programs such as the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Helpline and the Elderly Benefit Specialist Program. In addition to these ongoing programs, CWAG’s Elder Law Center advocates on behalf of Wisconsin’s elderly community and pursues legislative changes to improve the quality of life for these individuals.
Student pro bono efforts will be performed under the supervision of CWAG staff attorneys, and specific projects can be tailored to suit a student’s experiences and interests. Students can assist with document preparation, legal research and writing, community education, client intake, and client counseling. Examples of programs in which students can get involved can be found on CWAG’s website: http://cwagwisconsin.org/programs/.
Number of student volunteers requested: 8
Project start date: Immediate
Project end date: Ongoing
Approximate hours of work requested: 4-10 hours per week (4 hour per week commitment required).
Training: Students will be trained on-site to conduct client intakes and use CWAG software. Ongoing training will be provided as needed.
Work will be performed: At the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (address above). Some off-site work may be possible after sufficient training.
Transportation: Bus transportation is available (45 minute trip), but a personal vehicle would be helpful.
Required skills: Spanish and Hmong helpful, but not required.
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome.
To apply: Interested students should contact CWAG Attorney John Hendrick (jhendrick@cwag.org).
Community Immigration Law Center (CILC)
UW Latino Law Students Association
975 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53706
Clinic Location:
994 East Gorham Street
Madison, WI 53703
CILC provides legal information regarding immigration to individuals and groups who might otherwise not have access to the legal system. CILC does this through walk-in legal clinics, know-your-rights presentations, and other community education and outreach activities. CILC grew out of a series of meetings with people from various legal, social, and faith-based organizations who shared a concern about the lack of affordable legal services for noncitizens in our community.
The Latino Law Students Association coordinates student volunteering at CILC every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. At CILC, students conduct intakes on behalf of CILC attorneys with walk-in immigrant clients. Students also have the opportunity to observe attorney-client meetings following the intake. Students with foreign language skills may also contribute to CILC by completing various law-related translation projects.
Number of student volunteers requested: 5 to 6 students per visit
Project start date: Immediate
Project end date: Ongoing
Approximate hours of work requested: 3 hours per visit
Training: Spring semester training took place on February 3rd, 2012. Contact Kate Finley for information about future training opportunities (finley@wisc.edu).
Work will be performed: Christ Presbyterian Church (address above).
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome. Various languages preferred, especially Spanish.
To participate: Contact Kate Finley (LLSA Vice President of Community Affairs) at finley@wisc.edu.
National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) Detention Facility Trips
UW Latino Law Students Association
975 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53706
Detention Center Location:
Dodge County Detention Facility
216 West Center Street
Juneau, WI 53039
Undocumented individuals from around the country are apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and detained at the Dodge County Detention Facility, where they await a hearing on their deportation. Some of these detainees have valid claims for legal status or deferred action, but don’t have opportunities to access representation or legal advice during the hearing/deportation process. There are no court-appointed attorneys, and many don't have the resources or connections to hire an immigration attorney during the rapid deportation process. NIJC is able to provide legal services to some of these detainees with the help of UW law students.
The Latino Law Students Association coordinates a group of student volunteers to visit the Dodge County facility to spend four hours conducting intake interviews with detainees. Each student conducts one-on-one interviews with several detainees, gaining exposure to a variety of immigration-related issues and the removal process. Student volunteers provide a valuable service to these detainees and NIJC by screening them for possible relief from deportation, and also contribute to NIJC's program for tracking facility conditions and detainee treatment.
Number of student volunteers requested: 6 to 12 students per visit
Upcoming visit dates: Visit dates TBD.
Approximate hours of work requested: 4 hours per visit
Training: Students are trained on-campus where they are exposed to the NIJC intake forms and various scenarios that may arise in conducting intakes with immigrant detainees.
Work will be performed: At the Dodge County Detention Facility (address above).
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome. Various languages preferred, especially Spanish.
To participate: Contact Kate Finley (LLSA Vice President of Community Affairs) at finley@wisc.edu.
Wisconsin Wills for Heroes
State Bar of Wisconsin
P.O. Box 7158
Madison, WI 53707
Through the Wisconsin Wills for Heroes Program, volunteer lawyers, students and support personnel participate in clinics scheduled for first responder organizations around the state. At these events, volunteer lawyers and students prepare wills and other estate planning documents free of charge for eligible first responders and their spouses or domestic partners.
The clinics are broken into morning and afternoon sessions, each lasting 3 hours. Volunteers see one client per hour. Generally, one law student sits with one attorney for each appointment and provides direct assistance. Prior to their appointments, participants watch a video and complete some preliminary forms to be reviewed with the attorneys. The volunteers then use customized software to create the documents with each client. At subsequent stations, documents are witnessed and notarized.
The national Wills for Heroes program was created by the Wills for Heroes Foundation after September 11, 2001 and is designed to assist emergency personnel in preparing basic estate planning documents to protect themselves and their families. Wills for Heroes in Wisconsin is sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Pro Bono Program, with the generous support of Foley and Lardner LLP, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, LexisNexis and the State Bar Young Lawyers Division.
Number of student volunteers requested: 3-6 per clinic
Project start date: Ongoing
Project end date: Ongoing
Approximate hours of work requested: Attend as many clinics as desired in 3 hour increments
Training: N/A
Work will be performed: Clinic locations vary. See: http://www.eventbrite.com/org/384683063.
Desired course or clinic experience: None required, but 2Ls and 3Ls who have successfully completed Trusts and Estates preferred.
To participate: Interested students should sign up as a witness for upcoming clinics at http://www.eventbrite.com/org/384683063. Students should register on the event as "witnesses" for the morning, afternoon, or both. If the witness "tickets" are sold out on the registration page, students can email attorney Wes Taylor at wtaylor@foley.com to let him know they are coming.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
UW Law School Business and Tax Law Association (BATLAW)
975 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53703
VITA Site:
2300 South Park Street
Lower Level
Madison, WI 53713
The mission of the VITA program is to provide free tax preparation to low to moderate income individuals and families. Students will completely prepare and file the tax return of each client. Students may also be asked to do various clerical activities (filing signed papers, etc.). Additionally, students will have the opportunity to learn more about tax issues and answer client questions regarding various tax issues.
Students participating in VITA for directed research credits are not eligible for pro bono hours.
Number of student volunteers requested: Indefinite
Approximate hours of work requested: 4 hours per week
Training: Students complete an optional software training then take an online certification test. Students will be required to go through tax training at the VITA site where they will learn how to use the software and work on practice problems.
Work will be performed: At the VITA site (address above).
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome.
To participate: Closed for the 2011-2012 academic year. Project will recruit again in fall 2012.
Unemployment Appeals Clinic of the UW Law School
975 Bascom Mall
Madison, WI 53706
(503) 686-8534
Clinic Location:
Madison Labor Temple
1602 South Park Street, #106
Madison, WI 53715
Through participation in the Unemployment Appeals Clinic students will learn a substantive area of administrative law, and gain basic litigation skills such as case intake, client counseling, document preparation and representation in administrative law hearings.
The Unemployment Appeals Clinic is a volunteer organization staffed by University of Wisconsin Law students and supervising attorneys. The purpose of the clinic is to help provide representation to the unemployed in the local community, most of whom cannot find legal help elsewhere. The Clinic’s goal is to help clients file unemployment compensation claims with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD). The Clinic only deals with claims involving Wisconsin Unemployment Law.
The Clinic acts primarily as an information center to help members of the community prepare themselves for an Unemployment Insurance hearing. It also provides student advocates to appear at the administrative hearings and may occasionally help draft briefs to the Labor and industry Review Commission (LIRC) to obtain unemployment benefits.
Number of student volunteers requested: Indefinite
Project start date: September 18th, 2011
Project end date: Ongoing
Approximate hours of work requested: 6-12 per semester
Training: Spring semester training took place on February 7th, 2012 and February 8th, 2012. Contact uwuwac@rso.wisc.edu for information about future training opportunities.
Work will be performed: Students primarily work at the Labor Temple (address above), unless they are scheduled to appear at an administrative hearing.
Required skills: Spanish helpful, but not required.
Desired course or clinic experience: None, all levels (1L-3L) welcome.
To participate: Interested students should submit a brief letter of interest via email to uwuac@rso.wisc.edu.
