1. 800. 973.1177
SKILL SHARPENER
Award-winning University of Oregon law students give back to the community while furthering their own lega [by Erica Winter] As a group, students at the University of Oregon School of Law, Eugene, won the Oregon State Bar’s Pro Bono Challenge for the fourth year in a row by working thousands of pro bono hours. not as privileged as many law students. “I re-
Individually, by directly impacting the lives of
transition plans and how best to follow the
local people, they have achieved even more.
legislation mandating the plans, for judges,
ally like criminal law and working with kids,”
lawyers, and caseworkers who deal with
he says. Street Law was a way to do commu-
The Juvenile Rights Project in Portland;
abuse and neglect proceedings. For example,
nity service and also to have fun, he says.
Peer Court in Eugene and Springfield; Street
the book describes how to make sure that
Law, based at the law school; and the Lane
the kids have housing and health insurance
David Eisenberg found his pro bono niche
County Law and Advocacy Center are just
and gives advice on how best to advocate for
through a recommendation from Oregon
a few groups that have benefited from law
the child’s best interests.
Law’s Pro Bono Program Director, Jane
students’ service.
Steckbeck. When Eisenberg was looking for Allen spends a few hours a month during the
something to do for the summer after his
Molly Allen is in her second year at Oregon
school year working as a pro bono judge and
first year, she steered him towards the Lane
Law, and she has already clocked 400 hours
intake counselor in the Eugene and Spring-
County Law and Advocacy Center, saying it
of pro bono work. She works with both the
field city Peer Court programs. In Peer Court,
would help him learn interview skills and
Juvenile Rights Project and Peer Court.
juveniles charged with crimes come before
problem-solving. “And of course, she was
Before coming to law school, Allen interned
a jury of their fellow teens, which rules on
right,” says Eisenberg, now in his third year.
as a probation officer for juvenile defendants.
guilt and determines sentencing. Offenses
The experience “really opened my eyes to the
include underage possession of tobacco, low-
Eisenberg does intake interviews with the
difficulties so many kids face,” she says. It
level theft, or harassment. Sentences often
center’s low-income clients. He talks with
also showed her “how resilient kids are.”
include community service, says Allen, and a
the client and then discusses the legal is-
letter of apology.
sues with one of the supervising attorneys to
Allen came to law school knowing she want-
determine whether the center can help the
ed to work with juveniles, and a professor at
The pro bono work has been “the best part of
person or he needs to refer the person on to
the school connected her with the Juvenile
my legal education,” says Allen, who hopes
another lawyer.
Rights Project. The group works with kids
to work representing juveniles in her career
charged with crimes and also represents
after law school.
abused kids in dependency hearings, which
Most of the center’s clients have questions on denials for benefits such as Social Secu-
Jeremy Dickman does his pro bono work
rity disability, food stamps, or government
helping to head up the Street Law program
housing, says Eisenberg. Helping people
Allen would do home visits on behalf of
at Oregon Law. This year, Dickman won the
with denial appeals is the center’s “num-
attorneys and talk to the kids. She would
annual school award for making the most
ber-one priority,” he says. The center also
make sure there was no abuse taking place
impact through his pro bono work.
helps clients with family law issues, such as
determine child placement.
and convey information from the kids to the
divorce, child custody, and domestic violence
attorneys, Allen says. She also advocated
Street Law is comprised of law students who
for kids in meetings with the Department of
go to area high school classrooms and teach
Human Services.
students about their constitutional rights,
Eisenberg enjoys this kind of legal work and
including “the nuts and bolts of the Fourth
is “considering doing this as a career” or at
In addition to all that, Allen spent last sum-
Amendment,” Dickman says, advising stu-
least keeping up a pro bono commitment
mer writing a book.
dents on what to do if stopped by the police.
while working at a law firm, he says. He has
“It’s where the rubber meets the road as far
“a sense that you are supposed to, and can,
as the law is concerned.”
help people in this profession,” Eisenberg
Oregon requires a “transition plan” for foster
says. “It’s a very satisfying thing.”
kids turning 18 years old as they transition out of foster care. Allen researched
Dickman, a third-year, saw Street Law as a
and wrote a guidebook on the best types of
way to serve those in the community who are
PAGE 1
restraining orders.