OU Law Students to Hold Pop-Up Clinic for Veterans

Media Contact: 
Melissa Caperton
(405) 325-2227
mcaperton@ou.edu

NORMAN — In honor of Veterans Day, students at the University of Oklahoma College of Law will provide free legal assistance to veterans at a pop-up clinic, which will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 9 in Judge Jequita Napoli’s courtroom in the Cleveland County Courthouse.

Under the supervision of faculty attorneys, students enrolled in the OU Legal Clinic and members of OU Law’s Military Law Society will be available to provide document preparation for:

• simple will
• will and trust
• power of attorney
• advance directive
• transfer on death deed
• nomination of guardian

The pop-up clinic is a come-and-go event, and appointments are not necessary. Veterans seeking assistance will need to bring a photo ID.

“It is so important to honor and appreciate those who have served our country to defend the rule of law,” said OU Law Dean Joseph Harroz Jr. “Through this event, our students will not only gain valuable hands-on experience, they will enter the legal profession with a passion for pro bono work and a greater appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our veterans.”

Through its legal clinics, OU Law has a strong history of advocating for those in the community. In the college’s Civil Clinic and Criminal Defense Clinic, students represent clients from Cleveland and McClain counties who would not otherwise be able to afford counsel. During the 2017-2018 academic year, students in the OU Legal Clinic helped a revolving caseload of 178 cases, made 254 court appearances, and assisted 40 children with 25 guardian ad litem cases.

“The goal of the Legal Clinic is to give our students an opportunity to experience being a lawyer by providing quality legal services to those in our community who might otherwise not be able to obtain representation,” said Rebekah Taylor, assistant professor of clinical legal education at OU Law. “With this week’s clinic, we’re hoping to reach out to a specific group – our veterans – and help them create the legal documents they need to protect their own financial interests, as well as provide for their families in the future.”

Instilling the importance of pro bono work and public service is a hallmark of an OU Law education. In the 2017-2018 academic year, OU Law students completed 24,024 hours of pro bono and public service. Since 2004, OU Law students have reported more than 150,000 pro bono hours.

For more information about the Veterans Pop-Up Clinic, please contact Rebekah Taylor at rebekah.taylor@ou.edu or (405) 325-3702.

Founded in 1909, the OU College of Law is one of the nation’s premier law schools. OU Law offers small sections and class sizes that encourage a strong sense of community; accomplished faculty with international expertise; and a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the latest technology. The OU College of Law is the academic home of more than 800 students enrolled in the juris doctor program, the John B. Turner Master of Laws Program, the master of legal studies program and various dual degree programs. For more information about OU Law, visit law.ou.edu.