Law School to Hold Community Service Fair to Increase Student Awareness of Public Interest

September 22, 2005

With huge debts and high-paid offers from prestigious firms, law students are entering into public interest law in constantly decreasing numbers. Furthermore, pressure to bill hours has left pro-bono service as a last thought on the minds of many corporate lawyers.

University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law is doing its part to remedy the declining interest in public interest, an area of law practice that is dealing with an unmet demand for lawyers.

The law school’s Student Bar Association is hosting a Community Service Fair Sept. 28 from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. to introduce students to the abundant opportunities to get involved in the community and fulfill pro-bono pledge hours.

“As you know, a lawyer’s ethical obligation to provide pro bono service to the justice system and the community is among the most deeply held values of our profession,” said Rodney Smolla, dean of the law school. “It is also core to living greatly in the law, to making one’s life as a lawyer meaningful and fulfilling.”

Colleagues from the community will be invited, including Harry L. Carrico, former chief justice of the Virginia Supreme Court, who will speak at 12 p.m. in the Moot Courtroom. The fair will take place in the law school atrium and the courtroom.

Community service projects and opportunities will be shown to students through the entire two hours. Students also will have the chance to become a Virginia Bar Association Community Servant by signing a pledge of community service hours.

For more information, please contact Jean Dudley at 289-8895 or jdudley@richmond.edu.