Below is a list of the current Pro Bono and/or Public Service Projects available to TU Law students. To participate in a project, contact Jennifer Flexner in the career services office 918-631-2890 or jennifer-flexner@utulsa.edu
Local Attorney
Area of the law equitable distribution of property in a divorce and how the health of one party comes into play.
A rising third year is needed to assist with this pro bono case, especially with research. Help is needed in July - August 2008.
Neighbor For Neighbor Legal Clinic
Areas of the law include: Divorce, Name Changes, Simple Wills, Guardianship, Paternity, Landlord-Tenant, Contract and Workers Compensation
Law student volunteers would have an opportunity to assist with client intake, perform research, and streamline issues. The NFN legal clinic is open Monday-Thursday 9:00am - 3:00pm and one night a month.
For volunteers to be most useful to the legal clinic you should be available twice a week.
Tulsa Lawyers for Children (TLC)
Areas of the law: Children
TLC provides pro bono legal representation for abused, abandoned, and neglected children in the custody of the Department of Human Services. Law student volunteers will act as guardian ad litems for the children, representing the child's best interest. Training occurs once a semester.
Homeless Legal Assistance Project, Legal Aid of Oklahoma
Areas of the law include: Disability, Homeless, Housing, Public Benefits, and Veterans Rights
Training required, offered once a semester at the College of Law.
DVIS (Domestic Violence Intervention services): Civil Legal
Areas of the law include: Domestic Violence
Volunteers would be located at the Ann Patterson Family Safety Center. Volunteer law students preferably would be licensed legal interns.
Ann Patterson Dooley Family Safety Center
Areas of the law: Domestic Violence
Volunteers can assist in two different ways: Intake, helping victims of domestic violence fill out forms requesting a protective order, Spanish speaking would be useful but is NOT required or Statistics, help gather statistics on numbers of people who are affected by domestic violence.
Oklahoma Indian Legal Services, Inc.
Areas of the law include: Civil Rights, Consumer, Education, Family & Juvenile, Health, Nonprofit Organizations, Elder, Debt/Credit/Bankruptcy, and Environmental
CASA
Areas of the law: Children
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to speak up for abused and neglected children in court. A CASA works for the judge, alongside attorneys and social workers, as an appointed officer of the court. Training is required and there is an application process.
Tulsa Dream Center
Areas of the law: All typical issues: Family, Landlord/Tennant, Property, Consumer
The Dream Center is a faith based ministry which provides multiple services for the people in it's North Tulsa neighborhood. These services include a twice a month legal clinic, food and clothing distribution, medical and dental care, education services, and worship services.
Youth Services
Areas of the law: runs Tulsa Youth Court
Law students can assist the high school students involved in Youth Court. Law students can help lawyers teach training sessions and assist with the actual court proceedings of the Youth Court. Cases are referred to Youth Court by the juvenile justice system.
City of Tulsa - Department of Human Rights
Areas of the law: Civil Rights, Constitutional, Housing, and Employment
The city's Department of Human Rights focuses on ensuring equal rights and enforcing local civil rights law in the areas of housing, employment, public accommodation; and ensuring that minority and female owned businesses are afforded equal opportunity in contracting activities with the city.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters: TU Bigs
TU Bigs is a branch of Big Brothers/Big Sisters comprised of TU students who actively participate in Big Brothers and Sister of Oklahoma. The majority of the kids TU Bigs are matched with come from Kendall Whittier Elementary School. TU Bigs spends one hour a week at the school with their little brother/sister.
OCCJ
The Oklahoma Conference for Community and Justice is a human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry, and racism in Oklahoma. OCCJ promotes understanding and respect among all races, religions, and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution, and education. Law students can assist by becoming a "Different and the Same" facilitator.
CAP - Public Policy Program (Community Action Project)
Areas of the law: Poverty, Tax Policy, and Social Assistance Programs
CAP is a comprehensive anti-poverty agency with a 30 year history of providing a variety of services intended to help individuals and families in economic need achieve self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect.
Students are needed to perform research and some writing on public policy issues.
Tulsa Area Agency on Aging - Ombudsman
Areas of the law: Relates to elder law
Ombudsman volunteers are advocates for people living in nursing homes, assisted living and residential care facilities. If you are concerned about the needs of older people, able to work with many types of people, willing and able to follow problems through to resolution this volunteer opportunity would be a good fit. Training is provided.
Oklahoma Center for Consumer & Patient Safety
Volunteer research positions available. The Oklahoma Center for Consumer and Patient Safety is a nonprofit consumer and patient advocacy organization to inform and encourage grass-roots efforts to impact consumer and patient interests in congress, the executive branch and the courts. It also takes on big industries and the politicians every day in legislatures, the courts and in the media. For more information see their website at www.okccps.org
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels has an urgent need for people who are willing to deliver meals to elderly and disabled people. There is a critical need for drivers in Southwest Tulsa and North Tulsa. Volunteers can help one day a week on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, between 9AM and 11AM (or more if they like).
Kendall-Whittier Food Pantry
The Kendall-Whittier Food Pantry is in desperate need of help for
delivering food to neighborhood clients. The food pantry is located in the University United Methodist Church at 5th & College. Volunteers work in pairs and deliver groceries to residents in the neighborhood surrounding TU. Assistance is needed from 10 am – noon Monday through Saturday.
Girl Scouts
The Girl Scouts of the Magic Empire Council seek a variety of volunteers: troop leader and assistant leader, troop sponsor, outdoor activities, special programs, and clerical office help. There is an application and interview process for volunteers to go through befor beginning volunteer activities with the Girl Scouts.
Day Center for the Homeless
There are several opportunities to volunteer including: front desk assistant, in the clothing room, clerks in the clinic, and office assistant. These positions require a commitment of a few hours a week and are pretty flexible. There are also opportunities for groups to volunteer including: in the clothing room, building maintenance, night dinners, and donation drives (items and money).
Kendall-Whittier Elementary School
Kendall-Whittier is a partner in education with the University of Tulsa and is one of the community schools in Tulsa. They provide more than education to their students and also provide education to the families of their students. The school is only a few short blocks from the College of Law. The students and families attending this school tend to be poor and a large percentage is Hispanic. They hold various fundraisers and host special programs for the students and their families throughout the year. There are a number of ways you or your student organization can get involved with Kendall-Whittier.
Autism Legislation Project (ALP)
Areas of the law: Legislation, Autism
Law students are invited to participate in a pro bono opportunity to research state, national, and international legislation relating to autism, the fastest growing developmental disability in the nation. Working under the direction of an experienced Chicago attorney, students will collaboratively research and assist in other aspects of the group’s activities. Tele-conferences will be held on a regular basis to discuss ongoing research and new developments with the ALP. Additionally, interns will assist in developing and evaluating strategies for the advancement of project objectives. Participating students will be required to devote a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week during the summer conducting research and preparing written documentation. For more information on ALP, see http://www.autismlegislation.org/about.html
Interested students should submit a resume to larrylobb@sbcglobal.net for consideration.