Partnering with Nonprofit Organizations and Law Firms to Address Urgent Needs

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Session Type: Concurrent Sessions

Session Capacity: N/A

Hotel: N/A

Room: Union Square 1&2

Floor: 4th Floor

Law school clinics and pro bono projects which partner with nonprofit organizations and law firms can fill a gap in legal services in times of crises or geographic locations with limited resources. Capture the enthusiasm of law students and expand their professional networks through these collaborations. For instance, families who were previously separated at the border around 2018 are a particularly vulnerable population. Kids in Need of Defense began partnering with law schools in 2022 to provide direct legal representation at a time in which – due to steadfast advocacy and litigation – hope finally exists for these families to remain together in the United States. Similarly, partnerships with law firms leverage the expertise of trained attorneys to tackle bigger or lengthier cases that may take more than one semester or academic year to complete. Students gain additional mentorship, professional development opportunities, and a chance to have a big impact on their communities. Participants will learn to build partnerships, training modules, and collaborate with external partners on case rounds. Participants will leave the session with a template for scheduling a project and considerations for incorporating the project into clinic or as a pro bono opportunity. Participants are encouraged to identify organizations or law firms that may be ripe for partnerships to identify urgent needs