preLaw Magazine - Fall 2008 - (Page 19) “We’ve become a legal laboratory for law students and young attorneys of the private bar,” said Rachel Piercy, executive director of The Pro Bono Project. “They have come from law schools and private firms across the nation to gain the experience of working in such an environment.” The Project’s current caseload is focused mainly on employment and wage, succession, family/child custody, homeless and elder law. Gregg and six other Drake students worked on homeless legal issues, consumer and family law issues. Gregg said it’s clear that Drake and their previous experiences working at law firms prepared them well. “We feel like we were able to do some good,” he said. Josh Patrick, a third-year at Drake, said the experience has made his outlook on life a bit more refined. “I still feel that the organizations that exist to provide legal services to the indigent are under-funded and under-staffed,” Patrick said. “There are a number of excellent people, including The Pro Bono Project, out there doing all that they can to ensure that the rights of all people are recognized and defended. However, there is still so much that can be done.” Patrick also believes this experience will help him as a lawyer down the road. “In the future, this experience will help me in many ways,” he said. “First of all, I will always be committed to providing legal services to those who cannot otherwise afford them. Second of all, the experience has imbued me with a sense of humility. I will never lose sight of the true goal of the legal profession, which is to protect the rights of the public.” In the case of these Drake students and many more like them, they did just that. “We hope to be able to do the same thing next year, but with many more students,” Gregg said. “It will take some massive fundraising and organization, but we think we can pull it off.” Because you’ll be making the world a better place. Because your clients will love you. Because you’re not just about the money, but about really accomplishing something, working side by side with distinguished faculty members on real cases. For all these reasons, The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law may be the right place for you to study law. Our school is not for everyone. But if you like the idea of being part of a spirited community providing legal services to our most vulnerable residents, there’s no better place. As a public school, the tuition is affordable. And there are numerous scholarship opportunities as well—after all, part of our mission is to make the law accessible and affordable for a diverse mix of talented and committed people. To learn more, visit our website at www.law.udc.edu, e-mail or call the Admission Office at lawadmission@udc.edu or 202-274-7341. Three-year full-tuition Advocate for Justice Scholarship available. the scales of justice nothing tips The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law Learning Law in the Spirit of Public Interest like passion Law Day-Open House Program 11/15/08 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 www.law.udc.edu A great place to start your legal career. • Oldest law school in Orange County • Located in the heart of Southern California’s dynamic legal job market • 10,000 alumni – on the Bench, in private and public practice • Strong career services guidance and placement record To speak with an Advisor, call 714.459.1101 or 800.WSU.4LAW or email us at adm@wsulaw.edu. www.wsulaw.edu WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW 1111 North State College Boulevard | Fullerton, CA 92831 © Western State University College of Law 2008 08-WSU-2856 – 6/08 Fall 2008 19 http://www.law.udc.edu http://www.law.udc.edu http://www.law.udc.edu http://www.wsulaw.edu http://www.wsulaw.edu
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