The ABA recommends that each lawyer render at least fifty hours of pro bono work per year. Specific requirements are listed as to the type of work that qualifies as pro bono. However, compassionate lawyers and law students are needed to answer the call to public service if we are to meet the needs of those in society who require legal assistance but cannot afford it.

I always have been amazed by how the lack of financial resources can turn a minor issue into major problem.  In fact, it was my desire to assist those who could not afford legal representation that drove me to attend law school.  As Gainesville native, I knew I wanted to be involved in assisting to represent indigent clients in the area while at law school.  This led me to start volunteering with Three Rivers Legal Services during my 1L summer.  I remained a volunteer there throughout my 2L year and was afforded the opportunity to work there during my 3L year as a Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellow.  Throughout my time at law school, I have attempted to gain an understanding of the needs of different types of indigent clients.  During My 2L summer, I volunteered at the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, NY.

Through these and other experiences, I have developed an understanding of the fears and challenges that some individuals face when they are hurled into the justice system with a limited understanding of the process and with inadequate financial resources.  I have learned firsthand how showing empathy and refraining from judgment can enhance attorney-client relationships and place clients at ease.  Most importantly, I have learned that a patient and thorough explanation of a legal process can go a long way to assist an individual who will have to navigate the justice system alone.

Four law school classes especially have informed my perspective and have strengthened my desire to work with indigent clients: Child Support Enforcement; Criminal Procedure; Poverty Law; and Race, Law, and Crime.  Each class shed light on the needs of those populations who are likely be in need of free or low-cost legal assistance.  Each of these courses highlighted some of the rudimentary struggles that an individual may face in attempting to gain access to justice due to their socioeconomic status.  I feel that my ability to serve low-income clients was strongly enhanced by these classes and their professors.  I would encourage students interested in incorporating pro bono work into their careers to consider these courses.

The human experience is what has mattered most to me as I sought to donate my time.  I was able to gain excellent practical legal experience through these volunteer opportunities while a student at the Levin College of Law.  Yet, I feel most fortunate that I have had the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others by simply making myself available to serve them during their time of need.

Yvette Wiltshire is a 2011-12 Public Interest Law Fellow.  The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is funded by the Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

“To what greater object, to what greater character, can we aspire as lawyers than to assist the helpless and friendless in a worthy cause? I say there is none. To devote your skill and energy to the plight of another, without the promise of a material reward for oneself, is what sets us apart as professionals.” -John Adams, 1761

Among poverty groups, the immigrant poor constitute one of the most vulnerable populations in need of legal services. They face numerous obstacles in their quest for relief from deportation – language barriers, detainment in facilities located far from loved ones and the availability of legal services, distrust of government authorities, and a lack of familiarity with the legal system in the United States. Furthermore, the stakes are incredibly high – one hearing can determine whether one will have the right to remain in this country, be reunited with family members, or be able to earn a living. Without knowledgeable counsel to assist these individuals in navigating the complicated maze of immigration laws, their chances of overcoming these barriers and presenting a successful claim for relief are slim to none.

I am aware of the struggles immigrants face firsthand. My parents and I fled to the United States from Ukraine as refugees when I was eight years old, trading ties to friends and family for a life that was free from religious persecution. My parents’ sacrifice taught me the value of liberty at an early age and inspired me to use my knowledge of the law to help others legally achieve their fundamental human rights.

As a Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellow this past year, I have had the privilege to assist a local Gainesville immigration attorney, Mr. Evan George, with pro bono cases. My fellowship has been an invaluable learning experience because it has allowed me to work directly with clients on cases including asylum on the basis of sexual orientation, Haitian temporary protective status, derivative citizenship claims, U-visas for victims of severe crimes, and foreign residence requirement waivers. In addition to learning about various immigration policies and procedures, I have had the opportunity to observe the critical role an attorney plays in conducting research, procuring documentary evidence, and preparing clients for immigration court hearings. I encourage anyone interested in getting hands-on experience within the evolving area of immigration law to apply for the Public Interest Law Fellowship or contact the UF Immigration Law Association for more ways to get involved.

Marianna Tuninskaya is a 2010-11 Public Interest Law Fellow. The Public Interest Law Fellowship ship Program is funded by The Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

Before starting my fellowship placement with Southern Legal Counsel (SLC), my concept of “constitutional law” was mostly a federal one. This was unfortunate because it ignored the alternatives state constitutions offer for enforcing rights sometimes not enshrined in the federal version. No case brought this fact home to me more than SLC’s ongoing case ofCitizens for Strong Schools v. Florida State Board of Education.

Brought in 2009 on behalf of citizens, parents, and students, the case is a challenge to the current implementation of Florida’s public school system based on Article IX of the Florida Constitution.

The Article provides that:

“The education of children is a fundamental value of the people of the State of Florida. It is, therefore, a paramount duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders. Adequate provision shall be made by law for a uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education and for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require.”

This is as opposed to the federal Constitution, which the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted to not enshrine education as a fundamental right.

The case makes comprehensive allegations that the state is failing to meet Article IX’s standards. As evidence, the complaint cites Florida’s abysmal performance in graduation and retention rates, the state’s shifting its funding responsibility to school districts, and the difficulty schools have hiring and retaining qualified teachers. Most recently, the case survived a motion to dismiss though it seems destined for Florida Supreme Court review.

Though this may seem like a novel claim, it is actually part of a nationwide trend of school system challenges in state courts. This has resulted in a confusing patchwork of outcomes. Some state courts have found school quality claims are non-justiciable under the political question doctrine. Others have found violations and ordered changes, with mixed results. Sadly, some state courts have identified violations while refusing to mandate changes. If Federal constitutional law has one thing over state variants, perhaps it is uniformity.

Helping SLC with this case as a Public Interest Law Fellow has given me the opportunity to grow both as a person and a legal advocate. Before this case, words like “millage” and “complex litigation” were legal concepts that meant little to me. By aiding SLC, I have had the opportunity to work toward change while witnessing firsthand the skill and dedication necessary to be a civil rights advocate. Really though, SLC has been aiding me. My outlook on education and public interest law has been changed for the better.

Octavio Simoes-Ponce is a 2010-11 Public Interest Law Fellow. The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is funded by The Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

As a Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellow, I assisted the staff attorneys at Three Rivers Legal Services. At my work site, I developed exceptional rapport with all of the attorneys and staff there and I gained valuable experience. I had several short assignments and one large project. The assignments ranged from research topics on proper service on a party, when a bail bondsman must report a judgment, the effect of serving a motion for summary judgment and then amending the complaint, a contract to sell land without indicating the type of deed to be conveyed, and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) actions. The large project was a compilation of all of the Florida statutes that allowed for attorney fees. This project was extremely helpful to the office because the attorneys could quickly evaluate whether they could afford to litigate an expensive case for an indigent client. If a pro bono-oriented organization can collect its fees when it is successful at litigation, then it can more easily help other clients because it preserves the limited resources at the office.

I also had the opportunity to work with the other Florida Bar Foundation fellows. In the fall of 2010, we put on an informational session entitled: “Criminalization of Homelessness: Legal Issues in Providing Services to the Homeless”. Experienced attorneys and professors spoke on the plight of the homeless right here in Alachua County. It was an informative info-session held in the Martin Levin Advocacy Center. This spring semester, we explained how to apply for clinics and obtain fellowships and externships in an info-session entitled: “Two Birds One Stone: Serving your Community While enhancing your Legal Education”. We wanted those who attended to know exactly what to do so that they too could give back to the community.

The work that I completed in this fellowship was very fulfilling. Those who rely on public interest practitioners have no one else to advocate their rights, either because they cannot afford a private attorney or because they lack the sophistication to do so. Although we cannot help everyone, we make a difference in the lives of those to whom it matters the most. These clients are victims of domestic violence, predatory lending, prohibited treatment by private landlords, and many others. They need our help. Please remain aware of the need for public interest law and please contribute your time for such a worthy cause.

Lamar R. Miller is a 2010-11 Public Interest Law Fellow. The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is funded by The Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

Prior to coming to law school, the criminal justice system was a very simple concept to me. If a person committed a crime, that person should be held responsible. Once people repaid their debt to society through some penalty, they would earn the right to return to society and start again. However, it was not until I walked the long halls of prisons in Starke, Lake City, and Cocoa, Fla., that I got a little glimpse of how difficult the “starting again” really is.

I gained access to these prisons through The Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowship. This past year I worked at Florida Institutional Legal Services doing work on Inmate Reentry Programs and Prisoner Rights issues. Florida Institutional Legal Services, Inc. (FILS) is a nonprofit law office that provides free legal assistance to indigent people incarcerated in Florida.

While working at FILS, I researched issues ranging from the physical abuse of prisoners to the inhumane treatment of the mentally and physically ill. However, my most interesting work was participating in FILS Inmate Re-entry Program. Through the aid of attorneys and paralegals, FILS provides legal and administrative help to inmates teaching them the process to survive once they are released from incarceration.

The re-entry assistance is quite comprehensive. FILS provides inmates that request help, with packets that outline the process to receive food assistance, social security, veteran’s aid and other areas of aid. FILS also provides in-person advice and reentry programs for inmates at institutions. FILS also provides representation to selected inmates in Social Security hearings.

I went to several institutions to speak to inmates. I visited mostly with inmates that had been institutionalized for the majority of their adult lives. When talking to these inmates about returning to society most of them were scared. They were scared of being homeless. They were scared of not being able to survive. They were scared of committing crimes again. Their fear was rational. They were returning to an environment where they were most likely going to be homeless. Not to mention, they were returning to the worst economic situation since the Great Depression in a community that was scared of them.

In reality, these men will never be able to “start again,” not in the sense that they will be able to start from where they were prior to when they were incarcerated. But for these men and men like them, Florida Institutional Legal Services provides a helping hand to those that most people would rather never help. I am thankful for the attorneys and staff at Florida Institutional Legal Services. They provide invaluable service for so many.

Vanessa Goodwin is a 2010-11 Public Interest Law Fellow. The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is funded by The Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

The Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowship allowed me to work at the Juvenile Division of the offices of the public defender. The experience allowed me to enrich my passion for public interest work and it helped me gain knowledge on the area of criminal law.

After closely working with many teenagers, I came to the conclusion that the biggest problems these teens face are their families. I saw kids who did not have a place to live, kids whose parents stole their welfare benefits, kids who were physically and emotionally hurt by their parents, etc. While having trouble in your family is by no means an excuse to have a criminal record, working with these kids allowed me to better understand their emotions and behavior.

I noticed that families become a key element in the outcome of a case in the juvenile justice system. The few kids who had loving and supporting parents were the ones who obtained the best deals out of plea bargain. Good parents were active in the case, they asked questions when things were unclear, and they were patient with their teenagers. On the other hand, the kids whose parents were uncooperative had more trouble navigating the system. Unsupportive parents refused to drive the kids to court or pick the kids up at the detention center; the kids were unable to complete counseling or community service hours, which often resulted in a violation of probation. In addition, these parents pressured the kids to make a quick decision regarding their case.

As a certified legal intern in the Juvenile Division, many times, I had to ask the parents to let me speak to their kids in private because I did not want the parent’s opinion to interfere with the kid’s judgment. However, I knew the pressure was not fully alleviated.

Working for a year with the Juvenile Division allowed me to better understand how lucky I am to have people who support me. It is hard to understand people when you are not in their shoes, and it becomes easy to judge them. People sometimes think juvenile offenders are just troubled teens, failing to realize that the problem goes deeper into society.

One of my supervisors at the Public Defender’s Office volunteers in school programs designed for kids with behavioral issues. Sometimes a showing of love is all it takes to turn the lives of these kids around. After graduation I plan to be involved in community activities that can impact kids’ lives, and I encourage others to do the same.

Miredys Gonzalez is a 2010-11 Public Interest Law Fellow. The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is funded by The Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

• See full list of winners

Music Night 2010 hosted by Dean Jerry
Got a hidden musical talent? Show it off at the upcoming Music Night 2010, to be held Sunday, April 18, at 7 p.m. at the home of Dean Bob Jerry and his wife Lisa. All students and faculty are invited — but the “ticket” to attend is that you must bring a dessert and agree to perform a musical piece (play an instrument or sing a song). A piano will be available. Each participant can bring one guest. Space is limited, so sign up is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, stop by the Dean’s Office and see Doris Perron.

Clinic application deadline March 31
The deadline for clinic applications is March 31. The Florida Bar clearance letters must be attached to the application (except for Mediation Clinic). Conservation Clinic applications are available online and should be submitted directly to Director Tom Ankersen at ankersen@law.ufl.edu. All other clinic applications are submitted to Student Affairs. Offers are based on total credit hours, pre-reqs for some of the clinics, and application submission date/time may also be considered. Also, for the first time this fall, Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation (LAW 6388) will be offered and will be mandatory for civil clinics (except Mediation) beginning with spring 2011 enrollment. The clinics consider the application period a time of “open house” and interested students who are planning ahead or who are applying for summer/fall are encouraged to stop by.

Application deadline for UF’s Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Clinic is March 31
The Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Clinic is the first of its kind in the nation! IPVAC is a partnership between the College of Law, College of Medicine, Shands and Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network. Under the supervision of Director Teresa Drake, students will represent indigent victims of domestic violence in court with a variety of issues. Students will also have the opportunity to work with IPVAC’s interdisciplinary team consisting of social workers, outreach counselors and various medical personnel at Shands and negotiate such legal and ethical issues as HIPPA, confidentiality and client/patient privilege. Applications for IPVAC can be picked up at Student Services. Students should attach their initial clearance letter from the Florida Bar to their application. Students must also speak briefly with Director Teresa Drake (drake@law.ufl.edu) prior to applying.

Environmental & Land Use Law Certificate Program deadline April 2
Students interested in enrolling in the Environmental & Land Use Law Certificate Program this semester are encouraged to do so before Friday, April 2. Through the Environmental and Land Use Law Certificate Program, students can graduate from law school with a valuable credential that indicates both concentration and accomplishment in these two fields. If you have recently enrolled, or plan to do so, please contact Lena Hinson at hinson@law.ufl.edu to set up an appointment with Professor Alyson Flournoy, director of the Environmental & Land Use Law Program, to discuss your course of study for fall 2010. For more information on the ELUL Certificate Program please visit the ELULP Web site. Enrollment forms are available online or in 319 Holland Hall. Students enrolled in the certificate program will receive e-mail notification regarding priority pre-registration for core courses.

Become a Public Interest Law Fellow: Deadline April 5
Make a difference in your community and the world — and get paid for it. The Levin College of Law is currently seeking students for the Public Interest Law Fellows Program for 2010-11, funded by The Florida Bar Foundation. Public Interest Law Fellows are engaged in a number of public service projects in the community, and receive a stipend for their work. Applications are available in the Center for Governmental Responsibility, 230 Bruton-Geer Hall. The application deadline is April 5, at 5 p.m. For more information, e-mail Tim McLendon, mclendon@law.ufl.edu.

APIL fellowship applications due April 5
Need funding for your unpaid summer job? Applications for the APIL summer fellowship 2010 are here. Please download the application form that is available on APIL’s Twen page and submit your application to the Career Development Office by noon on April 5. Download the application »