PSLawNet
THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW NETWORK WORLDWIDE
(FORMERLY PRO BONO STUDENTS AMERICA)
WHAT IS PSLawNet?
PSLawNet is a national organization which helps law students and law graduates across the country find volunteer and paid positions with public interest organizations, government agencies, judges, and private firms with public interest or significant pro bono practices. A pro bono placement helps students to develop valuable and marketable legal experience. Placements also enable students to use skills acquired in law school to make a contribution to the underserved in their community. Students are able to help their careers while helping others.
PSLawNet also lists hundreds of compensated positions in the public sector including paid summer internships and paid fellowships and jobs for graduating students and practicing attorneys. It offers a variety of additional resources and services related to its web-based national database of public service opportunities found at www.pslawnet.org.
WHAT IS PUBLIC INTEREST WORK?
PSLawNet defines public interest work as work in non-profit organizations, the courts, government agencies, or private law firms with public interest or pro bono practices, or with law school professors involved with pro bono matters.
WHAT KINDS OF LEGAL WORK ARE AVAILABLE?
Students engage in a broad range of legal work, including research and writing, case preparation, client intake, and client representation in administrative hearings. PSLawNet placements are available in all types of public interest law, including, but not limited to, civil rights, criminal law, health law, environmental law, family law, nonprofit law, housing law, and alternative dispute resolution, among numerous others. Nearly 8500 organizations nationwide list public service opportunities on the database for students and alumni. In addition, PSLawNet, will have over 500 public service legal opportunites for those interested in working abroad.
HOW DO STUDENTS FIND A PLACEMENT?
Interested students should visit the PSLawNet website at www.pslawnet.org and follow the cues. The website will ask the student to check a series of boxes to narrow in on a specific geographic location and practice area. The database will then generate a list of opportunities. The student can then narrow these choices by reading supplemental information regarding the organization. The student can then fax their résumé to the selected organization. Shortly thereafter, the student will phone the organization to arrange for an interview with the designated contact person. For questions, please contact the Career Services office in East Wing Suite 210 or by phone at 552-4345.
WHAT TYPE OF COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED OF STUDENT?
PSLawNet encourages students to commit a minimum of 50 hours per placement ( 5 hours per week during a 10 week semester). Some organizations may request a greater time commitment, or a student may select a particular project requiring less time. Together, the student and the organization determine the exact duration of a specific placement. Volunteer positions are available during the fall and spring semesters. Full-time summer internships are also listed. In addition, a student may volunteer for a short-term project in their home town or law school locale during winter or spring vacation. Upon completion of a PSLawNet placement, each student is asked to fill out a form evaluating their experience.
WHAT IS REQUIRED OF PSLawNet MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS?
Organizations agree to provide attorney supervision for students performing legal work and must offer students substantive projects. Twice a year organizations are required to complete and return a short update form to PSLawNet to ensure the maintenance of a current database.
WHAT DO ORGANIZATIONS GAIN FROM PSLawNet?
Member organizations benefit from the volunteer services of highly qualified and committed law students and law graduates. They can increase their caseload, take on new cases, or handle existing matters with renewed vigor. By matching student interests with organization needs and educating students about organizations prior to placement, PSLawNet is able to make hundreds of successful placements nationally each year.
EXAMPLES OF PSLawNet: PUBLIC SERVICE LAW NETWORK WORLDWIDE PROJECTS
1. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The Boston City Hospital Domestic Violence Advocacy Project seeks law students for Domestic Violence Advocate positions in its Emergency Room and Court Advocacy Projects. Volunteers would attend administrative hearings, engage in client intake and counseling and assist victims of domestic violence in obtaining restraining orders and criminal remedies.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL
The Environmental League of Massachusetts has a 100 year history of protecting the Massachusetts environment by advocating for strong environmental laws and ensuring that these laws are properly implemented and enforced. Volunteers generally focus their work on research and writing regarding environmental policy issues of concern to them.
3. HEALTH CARE/PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
The Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance is responsible for administering health care to the poor, elderly and disabled throughout Massachusetts. Students would receive assignments in the areas of administrative law, including managed care arrangements, service coverage issues, third party liability and estate recovery, provider review, audit sanction and fraud enforcement and recipient eligibility issues. DMA offers excellent experience in civil litigation, legal research and written advocacy.
4. CIVIL RIGHTS
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts defends the Bill of Rights and the civil liberties and rights established in the Constitution. The office handles cases involving such matters as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, police misconduct, prisoners' rights, race, gender and sexual orientation discrimination, reproductive freedom, privacy, and due process. The office seeks volunteers to assist with legal research and memo writing, drafting of complaints and discovery requests, factual research, preparation of pretrial motions, drafting of appellate briefs and preparation for oral argument.
