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A Partnership Linking Students and Legal Professionals through
Volunteer Opportunities
In
the fall of 1999, the Volunteer Lawyers Program and the University
of Arizona
James E. Rogers College of Law formed a partnership, VLP
Advocates, to help
deliver legal services to those Pima County
residents most in need of civil legal
help. The idea behind
the partnership began to take shape when law students
who serve on
the University's Community Service Board began to discuss ways
in
which law students could get involved in law-related community
service.
"The
more legal experience you obtain during your law school
years,
the more you will be in a position to market yourself to
prospective employers. Participation in pro bono enables you
to gain
relevant legal experience, explore a variety of career
paths,
and network with practice lawyers. While performing a
much
needed community service, you will enhance your
professional development and ultimately become a better
lawyer."
- Melanie Kushnir
Assistant Staff Counsel
ABA Center for Pro Bono
To date, more than 480
law students have volunteered with the VLP. In 2005
alone, 124 law students
volunteered their time through the VLP, up from 110 in
2004 and 77 in
2003. These law students will touch approximately 1,000 cases
this year, almost one third of the total cases handled by the VLP annually.

Jillian
VLP gave me the opportunity to experience the law in a real life setting
away from my textbooks and the black letter law and helped me to develop
practical skills that will make be a better lawyer in the
future. Participating in the VLP program as both a student volunteer and
coordinator was one of my best law school experiences and continuously
reaffirmed for me why I went to law school, to advocate for those
families
and children who need it most.
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