Baylor Law honored for its legal services to the poor
If you know anything about Baylor Law School, you probably know the success its graduates have, both on the bar exam and in life (see here, here and here, for example). But you might not be as aware of Baylor Law’s legacy of service. Most recently, the school was honored with a prestigious award from the State Bar of Texas for its dedication to providing legal services to the poor.
The W. Frank Newton Award annually recognizes the pro bono contribution of those who have made an outstanding contribution in the provision of (or access to) legal services to the poor. The state award is named for Baylor graduate W. Frank Newton, BA ’66, JD ’77, a long time pro bono advocate.
Through Baylor Law’s Pro Bono and Public Service Program, the school offers an immigration clinic and a military veterans’ assistance clinic, each led by Baylor professors. The law school also annually hosts National Adoption Day, helping finalize adoptions in McLennan County, and the popular People’s Law School, a half-day event to help make the law more “user-friendly.”
The Pro Bono and Public Service Program encourages Baylor Law students to serve the community; since its inception, students have performed more that 2,300 hours of service. And through Baylor’s Public Interest Summer Fellowships, students continue to serve outside the academic year through summer internships with nonprofit or governmental organizations serving underrepresented populations. Since 2009, Baylor Law has also incorporated a community service project into each entering class’ orientation; past classes have worked with Habitat for Humanity, the City of Waco and Meals on Wheels.
Sic ’em, Baylor Law!
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* Baylor Law provides Christmas gifts for nearly 1,000 students at local elementary (Jan. 2013)
* For Baylor law students, lunchtime is just another time to serve others (Nov. 2010)
* New film highlights role of Baylor Law alum, prof in fighting small-town injustice (March 2009)