Pro Bono Service Opportunities *The following list represents just a few of the pro bono opportunities coordinated by the Faculty of Law. CLARO training (Office of legal advice and guidance in civil matters) CLARO is a walk-in consultation clinic for people who represent themselves in consumer debt disputes (mainly credit card debt). Consumer debt collection lawsuits have grown exponentially over the past decade, largely because debt is sold for a few cents on the dollar to creditors, who then collect and pursue the debt. Often, debts are lapsed, the amount sued is inaccurate, the plaintiff sued the wrong person, or the plaintiff has no proof of guilt. Law students work with volunteer attorneys to advise individuals on self-advocacy strategies such as reopening default judgments, calling a faulty service provided by the processor, or releasing a frozen bank account. As CLORO articling students, students greet clients, gather basic information about their legal situation, accompany volunteer lawyers to litigation interviews, and assist and review follow-up tasks, such as completing and filing court files with litigants. Service Day Project: This training program prepares students to participate in the following LIFT volunteer activities: Students work in internships that span the entire legal spectrum and include internships in public interest organizations and government agencies. Our corporate lawyers provide clients with legal services in choosing the right form of business, business formation, renewals and restructurings at all stages. The Economic Justice Legal Clinic is a year-round partner clinic in partnership with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), a nonprofit law firm that provides free and comprehensive civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers who otherwise cannot afford legal services or access legal services. Students at the clinic participate in the NYLAG FAIR, Inc. (PFAIR) project.
Established in 2001, PFAIR is the only agency specializing in fair hearings and the only coalition that brings together private lawyers, public interest law firms and social services to better serve complainants for fair hearings. The other seven are partner clinics offered in partnership with legal aid organizations and Catholic charities, as well as the Queens County District Attorney`s Office and the Bronx County District Attorney`s Office. These include: St. John`s Intellectual Property Law Center is a forum for research, education, professional development and services that addresses legal and policy issues in the knowledge economy. We focus on all the ways in which law and lawyers are helping to shape the information age, from intellectual property law to trade policy; from pharmaceuticals to publishing; from data protection rights to the principles of freedom of expression; from Silicon Alley to Madison Avenue. We invite you to learn more about us by following the links above or by reading more about our programs and initiatives below. St. John`s Faculty of Law`s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) provides financial assistance to qualified law school graduates in public interest positions by paying off a portion of their debt for law school. Skilled employment is a full-time job with a not-for-profit organization.
In accordance with the Vincentian Mission of Saint. John`s service to others, the program aims to enable graduates to choose their jobs without being excluded from the public interest and government options due to financial hardship. It also aims to encourage St. John`s law graduates to pursue careers in the public interest and public service. The Faculty of Law recognizes that the legal community has a responsibility to provide services to individuals who otherwise cannot afford representation. Beyond our JD program, we offer U.S.- and foreign-trained lawyers the opportunity to continue their legal education and gain focused expertise in one of our three LLM programs and one certificate program. Our graduate law programs include the clerkship program at St. John`s School of Law places students with a variety of pre-approved employers, where they work directly with an assigned mentor lawyer on real-world legal issues.
Internships provide students with real-world experience of processes and transactions, and in some cases, students face case management and policy issues. All internships give students real hands-on experience and prepare students to practice law in specific areas. Students choose internships based on their interest in a substantial area of law or their desire to learn or hone certain legal skills Through their hands-on work in clinics, students go beyond legal theory and case analysis learned in class to experience legal practice in real-world settings. Under the supervision of an outstanding clinical faculty of experienced educators and practitioners, students enhance their advocacy skills and professionalism in client representation. They conduct interviews, advise clients, investigate facts, conduct legal research, plan case strategy, write briefs, appear before courts and other forums, and negotiate settlements. The Faculty of Law offers the following clinics. Three are in-house clinics offered by our non-profit legal advisory organization, the St. Vincent de Paul Legal Program, Inc.
Outside the state-of-the-art clinical office of the Faculty of Law, they are: The Economic Justice Clinic is a two-semester clinic with eight credits (4 credits per semester) open to second- and third-year students. Participants work 13 hours per week at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) and attend a weekly two-hour seminar led by Professor Portelli at the School of Law and NYLAG. In addition to training on fair hearing advocacy, client interviews, and admissions skills, as well as solicitor-client rules and ethical considerations, the seminars will also focus on the history and theory of poverty law in the United States. Professsor Portelli will invite guest speakers from NYLAG, who are experts in their field, and others from legal service organizations across the city on current economic justice issues. Students complement the practical experience they gain through their external internship by attending a parallel seminar. With the first internship, students participate in a practical internship seminar that focuses on learning the everyday legal skills needed in any legal context, such as advising clients, negotiation and interviewing techniques, finding facts and sources, and ethics in the workplace. When students enroll in subsequent internships, they participate in an advanced seminar that further hones their legal skills and focuses on a variety of additional practical topics. Develop practical skills to do real legal work for New Yorkers in need through our 10 in-house clinics and partners: The Public Interest Center offers students a range of opportunities to explore, experiment, and practice law in the public interest.
We are also committed to teaching students the value and rewards of pro bono work. In 2003, the Faculty of Law launched the Pro Bono Service Project to promote the Vincentian mission of the University and the principle that law students and legal professionals have a special obligation to help provide quality legal services to unrepresented communities, groups or interests. The University of St. John`s Faculty of Law offers a certificate in Legal English that can be combined with a Master of Laws program at St. John`s University. The program offers internationally educated lawyers the opportunity to master the fundamental principles and concepts of U.S. law while learning “legal English” and working with experienced faculty in law and language courses. As he eagerly awaits the clinic`s opening, Professor LaFalce can already anticipate its effects. “St.
John`s has long been known for preparing students to work as prosecutors,” he notes. “I am committed to developing our reputation as an institution that trains movement advocates who are committed to reducing the size of our criminal justice system and reducing its serious damage.” This is an important mission that focuses on students who want to make a difference. Professor LaFalce understands this desire, which sparked him while he was a law student at Legal Aid in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. “After this first experience as a law student in the field, I knew that becoming a public advocate was the best way for me to address burning racial differences and other pervasive issues in our criminal justice system,” he says. “I was able to do this work in practice and as an educator. It is a great privilege to participate in St. John Law and lead our new advocacy clinic. I am very excited to accompany students at the beginning of their legal careers and I am incredibly excited to be in conversation with anyone who wants to become a public advocate. Students in the semester-long defense and advocacy clinic represent adults charged with offenses in the New York City Criminal Court and cover all aspects of a case, including: interviewing clients and witnesses, advocating for bail, conducting investigations, advocating on findings, hear prosecutors and judges, appear at hearings and advise clients on immigration and other collateral consequences. As they gain this invaluable experience, students learn how to navigate New York`s criminal justice system and advocate for disenfranchised clients. They will also participate in a weekly seminar where, among other things, they will review criminal justice reform movements in New York and discuss policy solutions to the systemic problems they face in this area. Established in 1993, the clinical program at St.
John`s School of Law continues our mission to provide students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities while ensuring that underserved and low-income New York City residents have access to essential legal services.