Steering Committee of the GR-Cooley Federal Bar Association student chapter.

The GR-Cooley chapter of the Federal Bar Association, along with the Western District FBA, is initiating a pro bono program designed to pair students with attorneys working on pro bono cases. Teams of two law students will assist the pro bono lawyer in whatever manner is most helpful, whether it be research, drafting, or fact investigation.

Applications for the program were mailed in April 2005, and between ten and fifteen students have applied. Students must be "certified" by having completed Civil Procedure and Research and Writing and must be in good academic standing.

A day-long seminar designed to prepare students for working on a case will be held on September 24, 2005. Topics will include ethics and confidentiality, qualified immunity, prison etiquette, and a mock trial presentation. Additional training included a seminar on electronic filing which was held July 5, 2005.

Once students have completed the mandatory seminar, they will be paired with attorneys to begin working on cases in the fall of 2005. Students will work under the supervision of Professor Alan Blakley, the FBA student chapter's advisor, to ensure quality control and timely work.

The Cooley FBA student chapter has 35 members and was formed in January 2005.