Directory
University of Southern California Gould School of Law
University of Southern California Gould School of Law
Law School Pro Bono Programs
Contact Information
Malissa Barnwell-Scott, Ed.D.
Director of Student Life and Pro Bono Liaison
[email protected]
P: (213) 740-5699
Category Type
Independent Student Pro Bono Group Projects with No School-Wide Program
Description of Programs
The student-run Pro Bono Campaign, begun in 1992, encourages students to perform a minimum of 25 hours of pro bono during the school year. Two officers of the Barbara L. Bice Public Interest Law Foundation are dedicated exclusively to the Pro Bono Campaign. Faculty members, the Career Services Office advise and other staff support the students, as does the entire PILF Board. Pro bono opportunities are promoted and facilitated through our in-house clinics or coordinated by PILF with local legal services offices, many of which include student trainings, and additional opportunities off-site.
Location of Programs
Standalone.
Staffing/Management/Oversight
No dedicated staff position.
Funding
Pro bono work is supported through the law school budget, foundations, donations from individuals and law firms.
Faculty and Administrative Pro Bono
None.
Awards/Recognition
The PILF Spring Awards Luncheon honors summer grant and clinical fellowship recipients, outstanding alumni and students in public interest, post-graduate fellowship recipients, and students and student organizations who fulfilled more than 100 hours of public interest service. The Annual Law School Awards ceremony honors recipients of Shattuck Awards, Mason Brown Award and the Miller-Johnson Equal Justice Award -- all of which place an emphasis on service to the community.
Alternative Spring Break/Winter Break Pro Bono
None.
Law School Public Interest Programs
Contact Information
Malissa Barnwell-Scott, Ed.D.
Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Pro Bono Liaison
[email protected]
P: (213) 740-5699
Certificate/Curriculum Programs
https://gould.usc.edu/academics/certificates/
Public Interest Centers
USC Gould has offered public interest programs for decades - its first clinical program was established in 1929 and the USC Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) was one of the earliest such organizations in the country founded in 1987.
PI Career Support Center
The Career Services Office (CSO) provides workshops, handbooks and extensive information and counseling on public service careers, including summer jobs, fellowships, government jobs, career paths, financing of a public interest career, etc. Career Resources include:
- Extensive library of resources, housed online in the CSO, containing information on government agencies, public interest organizations, practice specialties, summer and post-graduate fellowships and judicial clerkships.
- CSO Career Alert, a weekly e-newsletter providing students with information regarding upcoming events, deadlines and opportunities.
- Online resource collection of handbooks, guides and employment listing services accessible 24 hours a day through the USC Law Portal (password protected).
Selected resources include:
- VAULT Online Library of Career Guides
- Guide to Government Internship and Honors Programs
- Guide to Public Service Law
- Guide to Government Jobs In California
- Guide to State Court Clerkships
CSO also co-sponsors an annual Public Interest Career Fair at USC and Public Interest Career Day & Government Career Information Day with the other southern California law schools. CSO also provides travel stipends for students to attend the Workers’ Rights Conference and Equal Justice Conference and Career Fair, as well as supporting public interest symposia. For more information and resources visit http://lawweb.usc.edu/careers/index.cfm.
Loan Repayment Assistance Programs (LRAP)
https://gould.usc.edu/academics/degrees/jd/financial-aid/lrap/
Fellowships
USC Gould School of Law funds a full-time, one-year public interest fellowship, called the Irmas Fellowship. Additionally, the law school provides a guaranteed summer stipend to all 1Ls and 2Ls who pursue qualifying public interest work.