Service

As a licensed attorney, it is the professional responsibility of every lawyer to actively participate in pro bono work. The phrase “equal justice under the law” embodies a professional obligation that justice must be available to everyone regardless of economic status. Through the Pledge, we hope to instill this importance in our students. If they commit to pro bono as law students, our hope is that they will commit to pro bono as practicing attorneys.

In addition, there are certain practical aspects to practicing law that students will never learn sitting in a classroom – including learning how to talk to a client plainly and succinctly about the law, learning how to manage expectations, learning how to manage time – all of these skills come from requiring a student to use his or her growing legal knowledge in the real-world, in real-time.

For purposes of the Pledge, “pro bono and public service” is defined as all unpaid, law-related work (including but not limited to legal research and writing, interviewing, counseling, oral or written advocacy, or representation of individuals) supervised by a licensed attorney or other qualified supervisor which serves marginalized groups, non-profit organizations, or governmental entities.

Students may not receive any financial compensation for pro bono and public service work. In addition, in the case of a paid internship with a firm, any pro bono work done during such internship cannot be counted as pro bono hours.

Any pro bono and public service work performed to fulfill requirements of a clinic or externship, or to obtain other academic credit, will not be counted towards recognized pro bono and public service hours. However, hours performed in a clinic or externship placement in excess of the hours required to receive credit may be counted as qualifying pro bono and public service work.

All pro bono and public service hours are self-reported via 12Twenty. Students are provided instructions on how to report their pro bono and public service hours. Students are responsible for entering all pro bono and public service hours into 12Twenty. Supervisors do not report hours to OU Law.

Pro Bono Awards Reception - Every spring, OU Law recognizes all students who have completed more than 25 hours of pro bono and public service during the most recent academic year (May 1-April 30). In addition, OU Law recognizes each 1L, 2L, and 3L who has completed the most hours of pro bono and public service in their respective classes for that most recent academic year. Last, OU Law also recognizes the student in the graduating class who has completed the most hours of pro bono and public service over the course of his or her law school career.

Graduation Cords – Graduating students who have completed at least 50 hours of pro bono and public service during their law school career receive one crimson cord, and graduating students who have completed at least 100 hours of pro bono and public service during their law school career receive two cords, one cream and one crimson.

Assist attorneys on immigration cases at the Catholic Charities’ office in OKC.

Function as a court advocate for abused and neglected children who are wards of the juvenile court. Students meet with the children and families and provide recommendations to the court. Training sessions occur in the fall and spring semesters.

Assist attorneys on a wide variety of cases, including family law, landlord-tenant law, veterans’ rights, etc.

Work online for a real-time chat service that helps site visitors find legal information and free legal services. Training sessions occur in the fall and spring semesters, as well as early summer.

In late April of every year, students attend a one-day event to assist low-income individuals and families prepare will and trust documents.

During the Oklahoma legislative session (February-May), attend committee meetings at the state capitol and report on the legislation pertaining to children.

Work with attorney-volunteers at free legal clinics which are held the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th week of every month at various OKC metro locations.

Assist victims in completing protective orders with the opportunity to become a court advocate for victims. Training sessions occur in the fall semester.

Assist low-income and elderly taxpayers in the preparation and filing of their federal and state income tax returns. Training sessions occur in the spring semester.

OU Law’s live client clinics are functioning law offices that not only give students the chance to work with actual clients, but also with real case-management systems and other standard technology and processes of today’s law office. We have three live client clinics:

• Civil Clinic – students represent low-income clients in variety of cases, including family law.
• Criminal Defense Clinic – serves indigent defendants charged with municipal, misdemeanor, and felony cases in McCain and Cleveland counties.
• Section 1983 Clinic – focuses on federal civil (constitutional) rights cases brought before the U.S. District Court for the Western District.

OU Law is home to two interdisciplinary advocacy clinics: Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and International Human Rights Clinic. Both programs allow OU Law students to collaborate with graduate and professional students from across University of Oklahoma, such as medical and nursing students. The International Human Rights Clinic also provides students an opportunity for international immersion.