UND Law Students Collaborate with Community Non-Profit Organizations in Social Justice Lawyering Course
By Jennifer J . Cook
Rule 6.1 of North Dakota ’ s Rules of Professional Conduct encourages lawyers to provide pro bono or reduced cost public interest legal service . The rule notes in its comments that the American Bar Association ( ABA ) “ acknowledge [ s ] ‘ the basic responsibility of each lawyer engaged in the practice of law to provide public interest legal services ’. . . in one or more of the following areas : poverty law , civil rights law , public rights law , charitable organization representation and the administration of justice .”
With a blizzard looming on a gray and breezy morning in mid- January , nine second and third-year law students enrolled in the inaugural semester of a newly developed course , Social Justice Lawyering , at the University of North Dakota ’ s ( UND ) School of Law , began their journey toward meeting the aspirational goals of this rule . The students and I will spend 14 weeks exploring how members of the legal profession can work to advance social justice . By examining the meaning of social justice and the variety of structural factors that contribute to legal inequality , exploring ways in which legal assistance is funded and delivered to low-income and underrepresented individuals , and studying different substantive legal arenas in which social justice is pursued , students will learn about the diverse ways in which individuals and organizations can work for social justice , both in and out of the courtroom . Unique among most courses at the law school , Social Justice Lawyering provides students with the opportunity to put what they learn in the classroom to practice in the real-world almost immediately . Split into lawyering teams , students will collaborate with local community non-profit organizations to develop legal policy papers , community education materials , and advocacy tools that will help the partner nonprofit organizations work toward and effect systemic , impactful , and localized change for the communities they serve in North Dakota . This year ’ s community partners , the Fargo Moorhead Coalition to End Homelessness and North Dakota Human Rights Coalition ( NDHRC ), began working with me months in advance of the course ’ s commencement to help me visualize and develop the course ’ s partnerships to ensure law students ’ learning goals and their organizations ’ missions harmoniously converged to advance and protect civil rights .
NDHRC ’ s community organizer , Barry Nelson , reflected on his organization ’ s decision to work with law students enrolled in the course .“ Education is the bedrock of the work of human rights . Alongside advocacy , we believe that positive societal change comes only through awareness and understanding of personal responsibility . North Dakota Human Rights Coalition was and is excited to work with law students at the UND School of Law because it provides us with an opportunity to be a part of the education of future jurists ,” he said .
For Kylee Carlin , a second-year law student , her desire to participate in the course was grounded in the ideals that brought her to law
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