Law Student Pro Bono Projects | Touro Law Center New York
Current Students
Student Pro Bono Projects
Touro Law students are actively in engaged in many pro bono projects throughout the year. Here is a look at some of the programs that have been spearheaded by student organizations over the years. If you are interested in joining one of these efforts, or starting your own, please contact Cate Carbonaro, Director of ProBono, at (631) 761-7033.
Breaking Barriers
Breaking Barriers is a student-run project, based in the PAC, dedicated to removing barriers to employment by helping people correct errors on their RAP (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) sheets and obtain Certificates of Relief from Civil Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct, court documents that remove any automatic statutory disqualification from jobs or licenses. The program is co=sponsored by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.
Breaking Barriers is a student-run project, based in the PAC, dedicated to removing barriers to employment by helping people correct errors on their RAP (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) sheets and obtain Certificates of Relief from Civil Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct, court documents that remove any automatic statutory disqualification from jobs or licenses. The program is co=sponsored by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.
Center for Restorative Practices - Conference Facilitators
The Center for Restorative Practices is engaged in what is called Conferencing with youth offenders. The conferencing circles are a substitute for the judicial process for juvenile offenders facing Juvenile Delinquency Petitions and Persons In Need of Supervisions (PINS) Petitions. The goal of this process is to help Juvenile Offenders gain insight into the real life consequences of their behavior by having them interact with the victim of their crime. Touro Law students are being trained as Conference Facilitators, playing an active role in this collaborative law process and gaining interpersonal experience as well as learning how to interact with clients. Upon completion of training each student will receive a Certificate of Completion of Training from IIRP (International Institute of Restorative Practices.) This project is being spearheaded by the Public Interest Law Organization of Touro (PILOT).
The Center for Restorative Practices is engaged in what is called Conferencing with youth offenders. The conferencing circles are a substitute for the judicial process for juvenile offenders facing Juvenile Delinquency Petitions and Persons In Need of Supervisions (PINS) Petitions. The goal of this process is to help Juvenile Offenders gain insight into the real life consequences of their behavior by having them interact with the victim of their crime. Touro Law students are being trained as Conference Facilitators, playing an active role in this collaborative law process and gaining interpersonal experience as well as learning how to interact with clients. Upon completion of training each student will receive a Certificate of Completion of Training from IIRP (International Institute of Restorative Practices.) This project is being spearheaded by the Public Interest Law Organization of Touro (PILOT).
Disaster Legal Services
This program began with Touro students traveling to the Gulf Coast and then continued by helping our own neighbors who were affected by Superstorm Sandy. During this work, Touro students learned how to respond to any disaster including the current global pandemic.
This program began with Touro students traveling to the Gulf Coast and then continued by helping our own neighbors who were affected by Superstorm Sandy. During this work, Touro students learned how to respond to any disaster including the current global pandemic.
The Human Trafficking Project
Students work with PAC tenant the Empowerment Collaborative of Long Island whose mission is to create safer communities and break the cycle of violence, poverty and oppression.
Students work with PAC tenant the Empowerment Collaborative of Long Island whose mission is to create safer communities and break the cycle of violence, poverty and oppression.
Law Help
Law Help is a website designed to help low-income New Yorkers solve their legal problems. Touro Law student volunteers staff LiveHelp, an online, real-time chat service to assist and direct users toward available and relevant self-help materials, legal assistance organizations and court information. LiveHelp provides a simple, straightforward opportunity to help people in crisis and teaches student volunteers about a wide range of common legal problems. Students attend training and then volunteer for a certain number of hours per week for the semester for the project.
Law Help is a website designed to help low-income New Yorkers solve their legal problems. Touro Law student volunteers staff LiveHelp, an online, real-time chat service to assist and direct users toward available and relevant self-help materials, legal assistance organizations and court information. LiveHelp provides a simple, straightforward opportunity to help people in crisis and teaches student volunteers about a wide range of common legal problems. Students attend training and then volunteer for a certain number of hours per week for the semester for the project.
LeGaL Drop-In Clinic for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Members
This effort is being spearheaded by the students of LAMBDA and the Lesbian & Gay Law Students Association. Students are working to establish a bimonthly drop-in clinic, where students, in conjunction with admitted attorneys will provide legal advice and referrals to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community members on Long Island, who are struggling with a variety of legal issues.
This effort is being spearheaded by the students of LAMBDA and the Lesbian & Gay Law Students Association. Students are working to establish a bimonthly drop-in clinic, where students, in conjunction with admitted attorneys will provide legal advice and referrals to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community members on Long Island, who are struggling with a variety of legal issues.
Mock Trial Central Islip High School
Touro Law students in the Black Law Students Association, the Latino American Law Students Association, and Moot Court developed a coaching schedule from January- April to work with a local high school mock trial team. The groups provided a total of 5-6 law students that consistently works with the high school team 2-4 days a week, with each student being assigned to a particular day to assist for a few hours after school to prepare them for local and regional competitions.
Touro Law students in the Black Law Students Association, the Latino American Law Students Association, and Moot Court developed a coaching schedule from January- April to work with a local high school mock trial team. The groups provided a total of 5-6 law students that consistently works with the high school team 2-4 days a week, with each student being assigned to a particular day to assist for a few hours after school to prepare them for local and regional competitions.
Nassau Bus System Project
The Disability Law Society in conjunction with Nassau/Suffolk Law Services and Long Island Jobs with Justice (LIJwJ), is working on a litigation project addressing deficiencies in the Nassau County transit program, which is currently operating in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Disability Law Society in conjunction with Nassau/Suffolk Law Services and Long Island Jobs with Justice (LIJwJ), is working on a litigation project addressing deficiencies in the Nassau County transit program, which is currently operating in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
9/11 Victim Compensation Fund
Touro Law students have participated in the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund project. This regional collaborative project includes law students from New York area law schools working together with Victim Compensation Fund administrators, Access to Justice Initiative, the City Bar Justice Center and the National Center for Access to Justice at Cardozo Law School. Students received training to help candidates and potential recipients prepare and file their claims for relief. Students interviewed individuals and helped them fill out electronic forms and upload documents to the online system. Touro Law's participation in this project is being spearheaded by the Italian-American Law Students Society.
Touro Law students have participated in the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund project. This regional collaborative project includes law students from New York area law schools working together with Victim Compensation Fund administrators, Access to Justice Initiative, the City Bar Justice Center and the National Center for Access to Justice at Cardozo Law School. Students received training to help candidates and potential recipients prepare and file their claims for relief. Students interviewed individuals and helped them fill out electronic forms and upload documents to the online system. Touro Law's participation in this project is being spearheaded by the Italian-American Law Students Society.
School Suspension Project
Touro Law and the Suffolk County Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union have joined forces to protect students’ rights by working collaboratively on the School Suspension Project. The project trains law students to represent suspended public school students at superintendent’s hearings and help safeguard their right to education. There is a tremendous need to increase access to representation for low-income students and parents facing suspension hearings. Additionally, there is an overwhelming concern that the due process rights of students and parents alike are being violated. This project is being overseen by the Touro Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Touro Law and the Suffolk County Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union have joined forces to protect students’ rights by working collaboratively on the School Suspension Project. The project trains law students to represent suspended public school students at superintendent’s hearings and help safeguard their right to education. There is a tremendous need to increase access to representation for low-income students and parents facing suspension hearings. Additionally, there is an overwhelming concern that the due process rights of students and parents alike are being violated. This project is being overseen by the Touro Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Street Law Project
The Street Law Project involves a presentation by Touro Law's Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) members, supervised by a practicing attorney, that attempts to empower the Hispanic Community by informing them about their rights under the law. There is much misinformation and predatory practices that deeply affect the Latin American Community. Recently, LALSA students gave a presentation on President Obama’s Executive order “deferred action”.
The Street Law Project involves a presentation by Touro Law's Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) members, supervised by a practicing attorney, that attempts to empower the Hispanic Community by informing them about their rights under the law. There is much misinformation and predatory practices that deeply affect the Latin American Community. Recently, LALSA students gave a presentation on President Obama’s Executive order “deferred action”.
Suffolk County ProBono Foreclosure Assistance Program
The Suffolk County ProBono Foreclosure Assistance Program allows students to work together with volunteer attorneys in assisting homeowners going through the foreclosure process. The goal of the program is to help familiarize homeowners with the foreclosure process, explain to them their legal rights, counsel them on their individual situations and, ultimately, help them save their homes.
The Suffolk County ProBono Foreclosure Assistance Program allows students to work together with volunteer attorneys in assisting homeowners going through the foreclosure process. The goal of the program is to help familiarize homeowners with the foreclosure process, explain to them their legal rights, counsel them on their individual situations and, ultimately, help them save their homes.
Teenage Pregnant Mothers Project
Touro Law Center's Women's Bar Association (WBA) conducted research in the area of Minors Rights under the Law. On December 6, 2012 WBA members delivered two forty-five minute lectures to teenage parents from various school districts in Suffolk County. Topics included: statutory rape, emancipation, school district rights and responsibilities regarding your pregnancy and privacy, obtaining utilities, right to vote and legal obligations as parents.
Touro Law Center's Women's Bar Association (WBA) conducted research in the area of Minors Rights under the Law. On December 6, 2012 WBA members delivered two forty-five minute lectures to teenage parents from various school districts in Suffolk County. Topics included: statutory rape, emancipation, school district rights and responsibilities regarding your pregnancy and privacy, obtaining utilities, right to vote and legal obligations as parents.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Touro Law students are providing free tax help to low and moderate-income community members who need help preparing their own tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Through this public service project, sponsored by the United States Internal Revenue Service and being overseen by Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, more than 25 student volunteers have been trained and can file tax returns directly from the law school, a designated site for the program. This is the 4th year Touro Law students have participated in the project.
Touro Law students are providing free tax help to low and moderate-income community members who need help preparing their own tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Through this public service project, sponsored by the United States Internal Revenue Service and being overseen by Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island, more than 25 student volunteers have been trained and can file tax returns directly from the law school, a designated site for the program. This is the 4th year Touro Law students have participated in the project.