creating_a_supportive_environment_for_pro_bono
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
|
creating_a_supportive_environment_for_pro_bono [2013/07/30 16:31] jpbibby |
creating_a_supportive_environment_for_pro_bono [2013/10/17 09:34] (current) marieanne_mckeown [Law Schools and Students] |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
| The following chapter details who to contact in the pro bono community, and tips on how to do it. | The following chapter details who to contact in the pro bono community, and tips on how to do it. | ||
| - | ===== Who to Contact—Legal and Non-Legal Professionals ===== | + | ===== Whom to Contact—Legal and Non-Legal Professionals ===== |
| ==== Law Firms ==== | ==== Law Firms ==== | ||
| Line 28: | Line 28: | ||
| Bars may also offer opportunities for publicity about your clearinghouse or help to organize educational opportunities. For example, the Polish Bar provides training to young lawyers through civil, criminal and family law clinics. The Czech Bar has promoted the activities of the clearinghouse, posted information on its website, helped create a pro bono award and organized workshops with the clearinghouse there. Bars are key resources and partners, even if they provide support in name alone, and offer a great way for clearinghouses to gain early legitimacy. | Bars may also offer opportunities for publicity about your clearinghouse or help to organize educational opportunities. For example, the Polish Bar provides training to young lawyers through civil, criminal and family law clinics. The Czech Bar has promoted the activities of the clearinghouse, posted information on its website, helped create a pro bono award and organized workshops with the clearinghouse there. Bars are key resources and partners, even if they provide support in name alone, and offer a great way for clearinghouses to gain early legitimacy. | ||
| - | + | advice, primarily to illegal immigrants. More than 20,000 people have received free legal advice to date. | |
| - | <box 80% blue> | + | |
| - | In 2003, two former presidents of the Paris Bar established the **Paris Bar Solidarity project** to promote pro bono work. Lawyers visited “sensitive” areas and set up free legal clinics which offered free legal advice, primarily to illegal immigrants. More than 20,000 people have received free legal advice to date. | + | |
| </box> | </box> | ||
| Line 43: | Line 41: | ||
| <box 80% blue> | <box 80% blue> | ||
| - | //In October 2009, the International Law Unit of the Graduate Institute, the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and the University of Geneva signed an agreement with the Defence Counsels of the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon establishing a law clinic in international law. Under this agreement, students from the three academic institutions will conduct research to assist lawyers representing individuals charged with war crimes appearing before these two courts.// | + | //In 2012 **ENCLE, the European Network for Clinical Legal Education**, was set up. ENCLE will serve as an information hub and an open resource for the continent’s clinical community, including law schools, instructors, legal professionals, and NGOs. It will organize conferences, stage workshops, encourage research in the field, and facilitate information exchange through its website.// |
| + | |||
| + | </box> | ||
| + | |||
| + | <box 80% blue> | ||
| + | |||
| + | //In October 2009, the International Law Unit of the Graduate Institute, the **Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights** and **the University of Geneva** signed an agreement with the **Defence Counsels of the International Criminal Court** for the former Yugoslavia and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon establishing a law clinic in international law. Under this agreement, students from the three academic institutions will conduct research to assist lawyers representing individuals charged with war crimes appearing before these two courts.// | ||
| </box> | </box> | ||
| Line 53: | Line 57: | ||
| </box> | </box> | ||
| - | One way to inform law students about the benefits of pro bono work is to organize educational seminars and workshops for them. These may be run by the clearinghouse or in conjunction with bar associations and/or law firms. Not only will seminars educate law students, but law school administrators and professors may also learn more about pro bono from them. A clearinghouse could also attempt to create a legal clinic at the school, with the approval and cooperation of the school. See Appendix 18, How to Create a Legal Clinic. | + | One way to inform law students about the benefits of pro bono work is to organize educational seminars and workshops for them. These may be run by the clearinghouse or in conjunction with bar associations and/or law firms. Not only will seminars educate law students, but law school administrators and professors may also learn more about pro bono from them. A clearinghouse could also attempt to create a legal clinic at the school, with the approval and cooperation of the school. |
| <box 80% blue> | <box 80% blue> | ||
| Line 63: | Line 67: | ||
| //In the **United States**, clinical programs are a standard part of the legal education system, and pro bono services are often a prerequisite to graduation. Clinical programs allow students to work with clients and communities to address urgent problems, influence public policy, and improve the quality of legal problem-solving. Finally, they instill a commitment to public service and the value of pro bono work within students, while simultaneously providing an important educational learning experience. Three exemplary law school clinical programs are at:// | //In the **United States**, clinical programs are a standard part of the legal education system, and pro bono services are often a prerequisite to graduation. Clinical programs allow students to work with clients and communities to address urgent problems, influence public policy, and improve the quality of legal problem-solving. Finally, they instill a commitment to public service and the value of pro bono work within students, while simultaneously providing an important educational learning experience. Three exemplary law school clinical programs are at:// | ||
| - | //New York University Law School// | + | //**New York University Law School**// |
| - | * //Unordered List ItemThirty clinical programs in areas such as international human rights (in-house clinic), immigration (working with the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Unit), tax (working with the tax department of a large law firm to represent low-income taxpayers in cases before the U.S. Tax Court), environmental law (working with the Natural Resources Defense Council), and civil rights (students handle cases out of the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union).// | + | * //Thirtynine clinical programs in areas such as international human rights (in-house clinic), immigration (working with the Legal Aid Society’s Immigration Unit), tax (working with the tax department of a large law firm to represent low-income taxpayers in cases before the U.S. Tax Court), environmental law (working with the Natural Resources Defense Council), and civil rights (students handle cases out of the New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union).// |
| - | //Harvard University Law School// | + | //**Harvard University Law School**// |
| * //Thirty clinical programs and hundreds of externships.// | * //Thirty clinical programs and hundreds of externships.// | ||
| * //Requires that all law students complete forty hours of law-related pro bono as a condition of graduating.// | * //Requires that all law students complete forty hours of law-related pro bono as a condition of graduating.// | ||
| * //The Class of 2009 completed more than 308,000 hours of pro bono work.// | * //The Class of 2009 completed more than 308,000 hours of pro bono work.// | ||
| - | Columbia University Law School | + | //**Columbia University Law School**// |
| - | * //Eight clinical programs.// | + | * //Nine clinical programs.// |
| * //Requires that all law students complete forty hours of law-related pro bono as a condition of graduating.// | * //Requires that all law students complete forty hours of law-related pro bono as a condition of graduating.// | ||
| * //By 2009, Columbia students had contributed about 398,000 hours of pro bono service since the inception of the requirement in 1993. In 2009 alone, students contributed more than 32,000 hours of pro bono service. // | * //By 2009, Columbia students had contributed about 398,000 hours of pro bono service since the inception of the requirement in 1993. In 2009 alone, students contributed more than 32,000 hours of pro bono service. // | ||
| </box> | </box> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Governments, State Departments and Ministries ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | A clearinghouse might also consider cultivating relationships with competent ministries and state agencies. Some states have specific institutions and/or departments through which citizens and/or civil society organizations can raise important legal problems and social issues. Often legal professionals are required to assist in these processes. This is one reason that government agencies may welcome a clearinghouse devoted to addressing the unmet legal needs of its citizens and NGOs. It may be useful to explain your mission to various state institutions and point out the possible benefits of these activities for citizens, as well as the good intentions of the lawyers volunteering their time and services. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <box 80% blue> | ||
| + | |||
| + | //**PILnet's Hungarian Clearinghouse** signed a cross-promotional agreement with the Hungarian Bar Association and the Legal Aid Bureau. As a result of this agreement, NGOs that are seeking legal advice but are not eligible for state legal aid are referred to PILnet’s Hungarian Clearinghouse for legal advice. Additionally, the agreement allows each organization—the Hungarian Bar Association, the Legal Aid Bureau and PILnet—to display its logo on the others’ websites.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | </box> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Clearinghouses do not necessarily need to involve or contact any ministries or government officials initially. However, a clearinghouse should research the law regarding the legality of providing free legal services; publicity that could be considered illegal professional advertising; and issues related to taxation of pro bono services. These are all issues that clearinghouses have faced in various countries. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The relevant people to contact will vary for each country. However, you should consider contacting the following: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * offices of the parliamentary or governmental commissioners (“ombudsmen”) on human rights, social affairs, etc.; | ||
| + | * coordinating or supervising institutions of legal aid for citizens; | ||
| + | * coordinating bodies between the state and the NGO community; and | ||
| + | * national or local human rights bodies, and monitoring institutions including parliamentary or other human rights committees. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Tips for Engaging the Pro Bono Community ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Business Networking ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Business networking is the exchange of information, services or ideas amongst like-minded individuals. Specifically, it is a marketing technique that cultivates productive business relationships and opportunities through formal and informal networks. It is also cost-effective, requiring only personal dedication and commitment. A new clearinghouse should consider networking with the legal and non-legal professionals mentioned above to foster and maintain a positive pro bono sentiment. Arrange meetings, attend receptions, participate in roundtable discussions—anything that may be an opportunity to help the clearinghouse and to meet individuals to involve in pro bono work. As always, start with the people you know, then turn to the contacts of the people you know, then the contacts of the contacts of the people you know, and so on. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Promote Initial Success ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Once a clearinghouse has built up a successful record of several pro bono matters, let people know! It could be something as small and quick as a post on the clearinghouse website or an email alert; or it could be more involved, like a newsletter or a press release. Target those groups with which you want to develop connections. See the Publicity for Pro Bono Activities section (page 55) for a more detailed examination of pro bono publicity. By promoting its initial victories, a clearinghouse will raise its profile, get lawyers involved, and help to spread the word among the NGO community. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Maintain Relationships ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Once relationships have developed in the pro bono community, maintaining these relationships is vital to the continuation of a positive pro bono sentiment. Specifically, personal contact is key. Continue to reach out to NGOs. Although an NGO may not initially be sure of its legal needs, over time it may grow to understand how a clearinghouse can help with its legal issues. Continue to reach out to lawyers and law firms. Contact the lawyers who completed the pro bono survey or attended an early meeting, and remind them that the clearinghouse is still building its pro bono network. Try to put into place a way of making regular contact with the lawyers the clearinghouse has worked with. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Prepare Marketing Materials ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Finally, an efficient way to continue to publicize the clearinghouse, maintain the relationships developed, and to promote the successes of the clearinghouse, is by creating marketing materials that can be widely disseminated within the pro bono community. The Publicity for Pro Bono Activities section (page 55) explores and discusses the ways in which a clearinghouse can use various forms of media to promote itself specifically, as well as pro bono generally. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <box 80% blue> | ||
| + | |||
| + | | | ||
| + | |||
| + | //**The Slovenian Clearinghouse** established itself through a five-step process.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | //1. Survey—it conducted an online survey of pro bono practice that was emailed to more than 1,000 lawyers.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | //2. Analysis—data obtained in the survey identified gaps which prevent pro bono practice from developing further. This allowed the clearinghouse to prepare recommendations for systematic change and development.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | //3. Network—it obtained support from four respected individuals, each representing a different area (a human rights ombudsman, a university professor, a well-known attorney, and the president of the Supreme Court), and the bar association.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | //4. Publicity—it prepared leaflets with project information, and organized roundtables to present project results to the public.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | //5. Full operation of the clearinghouse—it started placing matters.// | ||
| + | |||
| + | </box> | ||
| + | |||
creating_a_supportive_environment_for_pro_bono.1375201911.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/07/30 16:31 by jpbibby
Page Tools
The Online Pro Bono Clearinghouse Manual is a joint project of:
This site is made available through the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivatives 3.0 Unported License Agreement