OPPORTUNITIES

Suffolk University Law School offers a variety of pro bono placements, and we are continually working to expand and diversify opportunities for students. If you do not see a placement that matches your area of interest email ProBono@suffolk.edu for assistance in identifying and obtaining a pro bono placement that best meets your interests and skills. You may also initiate your own pro bono project and count those hours toward the pro bono program, as long as you receive prior approval. Please e-mail ProBono@suffolk.edu with questions and for pre-approval.

Upper-level students may also participate in our Pro Bono Partners Program, which pairs interested alumni and other attorneys with upper-level law students to work together on pro bono cases from one of three Boston area organizations: the Volunteer Lawyers Project, Health Law Advocates, and the Victim Rights Law Center. Our Partners Program also works with the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) to match upper-level students with certified private bar counsel on cases involving public criminal defense, child and family law, and mental health litigation.

For more information about Suffolk's Pro Bono Program, see the Pro Bono Program Handbook.

Pro bono opportunities are listed below. For more information, e-mail ProBono@suffolk.edu.

Attention All Pro Bono Students with Language Skills
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) – Seeking Pro Bono Translators

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a new and innovative non-profit organization created by Microsoft Corporation and actress and human rights activist, Angelina Jolie, designed to foster a collaborative effort between law firms, philanthropists, and non-governmental organizations that are committed to providing fair, competent, and compassionate counsel to unaccompanied children in the immigration system. KIND assists children with all types of immigration cases, both affirmatively and for those in removal proceedings (i.e., asylum, Special Immigration Juvenile Status, U or T Visas, VAWA petitions, family based petitions, etc.). The immigration court system is complex and intimidating, and one that no child should have to face alone. Law student volunteers are needed as translators during initial intakes with children, translators of important documentation, and to conduct legal research on immigration issues. While fluency in Spanish is most needed, students with other second language capabilities are encouraged to contact KIND to volunteer. Although the weekly time commitment varies, most volunteer work can be performed in 5 to 10 hours per week during the weekday. New volunteers are encouraged to attend volunteer trainings focused on immigration issues held at corporate law firms, and students may also help KIND staff prepare for volunteer trainings and present during the sessions. If you are interested, please email your resume to Mia Friedman at mfriedman@suffolk.edu.

Albanian Interpreter Needed To Assist With a Detainee Case

The Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR) is looking for an Albanian interpreter to assist with a detainee case. The client’s English is very limited and so PAIR is hoping to find a student willing to assist with interpreting on a limited basis. If you are interested, please email your resume to Mia Friedman at mfriedman@suffolk.edu. Also, please feel to pass this opportunity along to other qualified students.

The Mississippi Center for Justice Seeks Law Students To Respond To Gulf Coast Oil Disaster

The Mississippi Center for Justice seeks three unpaid law student interns to support their response to the emerging oil disaster on the Gulf Coast. As a first responder in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Center has important experience, skills and other assets to contribute to this effort. These positions require re-locating to the Center’s Biloxi office. We seek help with our systemic legal advocacy work, as well as individual outreach, education and assistance to the oil disaster’s most vulnerable victims, including low-wealth individuals and communities of color on the Mississippi coast. Interns will work with Center staff to adapt its post-Katrina delivery models to this new disaster, including community clinics, deployment of the volunteer services of lawyers and law students, and partnerships with local and national advocacy groups. Interested students should send a cover letter and resume as soon as possible to Beth Orlansky, Advocacy Director, borlansky@mscenterforjustice.org.

Boston Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition Seeks Part-Time Summer Volunteers

Spearheaded by the Office of Mayor Thomas Menino, the Boston Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition is a partnership of non-profits, businesses, and community organizations that promote the economic independent of working individuals and families. The EITC Coalition is currently seeking part-time summer volunteers. Several types of pro bono projects are available. For example, students may: serve as credit advisors, assisting taxpayers in accessing and analyzing their credit records; serve as financial coaches, offering counseling on credit advising, budgeting, banking information, benefits screening, and referral assistance; and perform legal research on policy work involving poverty, financial services, and economics. Interested students should email their resumes to Mia Friedman at mfriedman@suffolk.edu.

Nuestra Communidad Volunteer Student Internship Position

Nuestra Communidad, a Roxbury community development corporation, is seeking volunteer interns for the summer of 2010. Supervised by a team of experienced Housing Counselors, Interns provide foreclosure prevention counseling and advocacy to low and moderate income homeowners at risk or in the process of losing their homes. Nuestra’s services include preparing a client’s case for presentation to the lenders and negotiating on the client’s behalf to secure relief on their mortgage agreements. Nuestra helps clients obtain mortgage modifications, short sales, forbearance agreements and other appropriate solutions. Depending on experience and need Interns will: meet with customers and prepare loan restructure cases to send to servicers; work and negotiate with mortgage lenders and brokers, loan servicers, and real estate agents; stay current on issues relevant to the mortgage lending, changes in foreclosure laws, and the availability of resources and special programs in the city of Boston and in neighboring jurisdictions; research activities in the real estate and lending markets that may be helpful for NOAH’s clients’ participate in policy recommendations; maintain and monitor clients’ files and database; write reports and correspondence as needed; and assist counselors in conducting homeownership post-purchase and foreclosure prevention educational presentations to community organizations. Nuestra provides interns with training, in partnership with NOAH, Boston Federal Reserve Bank, Division of Banks, Neighbor works and Mass Housing. Qualifications: Language skills a plus. Applicants should have an interest in mortgage lending, foreclosure prevention and negotiation. To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to: Amelia Hill, Nuestra Communidad,56 Warren St., Suite 200, Roxbury, MA 02119, www.nuestracdc.org, ahill@nuestracdc.org.

NOAH Homeownership Program Volunteer Position

The Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH) is a community development corporation located in East Boston. NOAH’s Loan-to Purchase program (LTP) provides homeownership counseling and subordinate loans of up to $20,000 to eligible first-time homeowners. The LTP Program was created by the Boston Housing Authority, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support the redevelopment of BHA’s Washington Beech public housing development in Roslindale, Massachusetts. NOAH’s LTP program seeks volunteer interns or attorneys to make a two to three month part-time commitment to this work. NOAH’s role in the administration of this program is to provide homeownership counseling and coordinate the purchase of properties using the down payment assistance. Depending on Experience and need, volunteers will: process and assess intake applications for the LTP program; prepare initial loan applications and transmit to servicers for approval; provide credit counseling services; and coordinate with realtors and attorneys to complete the sale. Training will be provided in-house by our experienced housing counselors. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working in real estate, as a realtor or a real estate attorney. In addition, this program is an opportunity to understand housing policy in Boston. Qualifications: Bilingual Spanish skills preferred. Applicants should have an interest in mortgage lending, real estate and credit counseling. For more information please contact: Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH), 143 Border Street, East Boston, MA 02129, www.noahcdc.org. Email: ldyen@noahcdc.org with “BHA volunteer position” in subject line or call 617-418-8257

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