October 20, 2009

Cooley Celebrates Pro Bono Month by Providing 14,000-Plus Hours of Free Legal Counsel to Michigan Residents and Organizations

As part of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s commitment to service, its students, staff, faculty and alumni affiliated with the nation’s largest law school will provide an estimated 14,000 hours of pro bono legal services this month to hundreds of Michigan residents and nonprofit organizations.

The State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association have designated October as Pro Bono Month; Cooley is celebrating with a series of special outreach efforts in October (noted below), while continuing its year-round pro bono efforts.

But Cooley’s pro bono work is not limited to one month of the year. In 2008, Cooley students, staff, faculty and alumni provided more than 169,000 hours of free legal service to the people and institutions surrounding its campuses in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Auburn Hills, and around the world through 18 pro bono clinics and programs. The clinics and programs impact everyone from military service members and non-profit organizations to the homeless, elderly and wrongfully convicted.

"From day one, Cooley students learn that the incredible responsibility associated with earning a law degree extends into the community," said Amy Timmer, Associate Dean of Students and Professionalism.

Featured Cooley pro bono month events include:

Lansing Community
Service to Soldiers: Legal Assistance Referral Program, Oct. 19 - 20, 2009
Eight Cooley students, two faculty members, an alumnus and two staff members will assist JAG officers in preparing wills and power-of-attorney for 650 deploying National Guardsmen and women at Fort Custer in Augusta.
Open Door Ministry: Oct. 21, 2009, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Oct. 23, 2009, 1 - 3 p.m.
Central United Methodist Church (215 North Capitol Ave., Lansing, Mich.)
Under the supervision of Cooley’s Assistant Dean of Students Cynthia Ward, Cooley students will offer pro bono legal services to clients of this community center, which focuses on individuals experiencing emergency or crisis situations.  

Auburn Hills/Pontiac Communities
Pro bono services to seniors, Thurs., Oct. 22; Noon – 2 p.m.
Ruth Peterson Senior Center (990 Joslyn Ave., Pontiac, Mich.)
Working with Lakeshore Legal Aid, Cooley faculty attorneys and students will provide pro bono legal services to senior citizens.
Foreclosure Seminar, Sat., Oct. 31, 2009; 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
New Mount Moriah International Church (313 E. Walton Blvd., Pontiac, Mich.)

Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation.  Founded in 1972, it operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor.  Today, Cooley Law School has nearly 14,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and master of laws programs.  Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May and September.   Additional information about Cooley can be found at cooley.edu.