May 15, 2006
Pro Bono Graduates Rack Up 7,042.5 Hours of Volunteer Work
The 57 graduates who wore the bright royal blue cords at Thomas Jefferson School of Law's commencement ceremony at the Organ Pavilion on Saturday, May 6, 2006, are strong proof that commitment to public service is alive and well in this new generation of soon-to-be-lawyers from TJSL. Together this group of students volunteered a total of 7,042.5 hours of free legal work to community-based legal service projects during the past academic year. One student alone devoted 800 hours to Defenders of Wildlife, which is a tremendous effort considering the demands of a rigorous law school program on a student.
The other students volunteered their time serving the indigent, the low-income, and others in need of assistance with agencies such as the San Diego Public Defenders, the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, the Alternate Public Defender, the YWCA, the Sierra Club, Legal Aid of San Diego, the Federal Defenders, San Diego Teen Court, Senior Citizens Legal Services, San Diego County Bar Children at Risk, U.S. Marine Corps Legal Defense, Family Law Facilitator and TJSL's own VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance) clinic.
The students earned their blue cords as a reward of Thomas Jefferson's Pro Bono Honors Program, which requires that the students complete a minimum of 50 hours of community-based volunteer legal service during the academic year. The students DO NOT earn academic credit or compensation for these many hours of service dedicated to the community - making it a truly volunteer program and not mandatory as is the case at some law schools.
"We encourage our students to take advantage of the many opportunties to become involved in the community and to enhance their law school experience and practical legal skills," according to Professor Judybeth Tropp, Director of Career Services and Clinical Education at Thomas Jefferson. "In addition to volunteering much needed assistance and gaining the personal satisfaction that comes with that, these students are adding valuable practical legal experience to their resumes. Employers appreciate those who give back to the community."