Category Archives: HELP Clinic

News, updates and requests!

I recently posted this on TWEN but realized that many of you have not joined us on that platform ( sigh) but not to worry, here is the information

Here are a few updates and items of interest from the Pro Bono Program
1. Buttons!  Yes, we now have reminder buttons for all volunteers to help them to remember to enter their volunteer hours into M.Y. Pro Bono: Managing Your Pro Bono. It takes less than 10 seconds and is a great habit to prepare you for those billable hour reports ( Yikes ) More information here: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/law/internal/department/pro_bono/my_pro_bono.php
Come by the office to pick up your button!  It’s a good look!
2. Looking for just a few special volunteers from all three classes! We will form a team of super stars to create a legal information flyer for the 5th Circuit Public Defender’s office.   Time is flexible.
3. Are you just overwhelmed with school, work, life?  But still want to help the Pro Bono Program? It may not seem like much but helping us put up posters about Daniel’s Law or the Responsible Fathers Registry is simple but important.  Getting the information out about these two issues is key and a constant need.  Come by and get a packet of ready to put up posters and post as you drive around the state. Not to worry there are suggestions and information. Good for male and female students
4. 2L and 3L’s There is still room at the Friday Blitzes for this semester.  Once a month from 2:30-5 at the SC Bar Building.  A chance to work along side an attorney as you respond to questions posted by the public to an online forum.  Entertaining and a learning experience for all of us. Sign up and details here:
Any Alumni on this list? We would love to see YOU at the Friday Blitz!
5. HELP!  Not the Beatles song but the twice a month Homeless Legal Clinic.  ANY law student can conduct the intake interview.  The HELP Clinic is held the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 8:30-10 at Transitions. A great way to interact with attorneys! Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090a4babad2eabfe3-project
6. Last reminder! Still adding names to a list of new volunteers willing to serve as guardians ad litem in Probate Court. Once we have a list of 10-12 volunteers sign-up, a convenient training schedule will be set up! Typically this involves 4 two-hour sessions in the evening.  Once trained you will be paired with an experienced volunteer. The team will be appointed by the Probate Judge, review the file, conduct an interview of the proposed guardian and the alleged incapacitated person and file a report with the Court. Whew! Sounds like a lot but in reality each case is fascinating and do not take long. Big on experience and low on time commitment!
Have questions? want more information?  Check the web and contact the Office now
That’s all folks!
Pam Robinson. Robinspd@law.sc.edu 

Data Entry Help needed

If you have an hour or so a month and would like a change from studying, we have the perfect pro project for you!  The Richland County Bar Association staffs a Homeless Legal Clinic twice a month at Transitions.  As part of the HELP Clinic an intake form is completed ( often by a volunteer law student) At the conclusion of the Clinic the forms are scanned and sent to the Pro Pro Bono Program

Where do you come in?  We need to enter the information on those forms into a data base. This helps the HELP Committee figure out what are the trends and emerging issues facing the homeless population.

Once you volunteer the Pro Bono Program can give you access to the office so you can drop in anytime to enter data.  The hardest part of this job-reading the handwriting of the lawyers!

To volunteer send a message to Pamela Robinson Robinspd@law.sc.edu

Help needed with the HELP Clinic and DATA

Twice a month the Richland County Bar Public Service Committee conducts the HELP Clinic to provide legal advice to the local homeless population. Law Students are encouraged to assist by conducting the intake interviews. The HELP Clinic is from 8:30-10 on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.
Contact the Pro Bono Program and we will send you the information and link for signing up.
As part of the HELP Clinic, the Intake Forms are sent to the Pro Bono Program for data compilation.  This is a place where two volunteers are needed.  The good news! This can be done anytime you want to come to the building.  We can make the files to be entered and the database available to you! evenings, Sunday afternoon, whatever works for you.  A simple matter of giving you access to the Pro Bono Program office if during non-regular work hours.
we have a bit of a backlog so help is needed ASAP. Once school starts we will only have 10-15 intake forms a month to enter.  Does not take long but I can’t say that it is exciting but definitely appreciated!
The data we compile helps the Public Service Committee plan for future efforts and to keep track of the issues clients are facing
Contact Pam Robinson today if you can help!  mailto:Robinspd@law.sc.edu