School of Law to Recognize Student Volunteers

The University of Arkansas School of Law's Pro Bono Program will host its third annual awards ceremony to honor students with the most volunteer service hours. The event is scheduled for noon Monday, April 6, in the E.J. Ball Courtroom at the Leflar Law Center. The ceremony and luncheon are open to the public.

Awards will be presented to the three students who have accumulated the greatest number of approved volunteer hours during their law school careers. Third-year law students Tiffany Brown, Lensa Odima, and Le’Joi Walker are this year’s honorees. Brown completed 695 pro bono hours over her law school career, Odima volunteered 425 hours, and Walker completed 400.

Brown completed most of her hours with the public defender’s office of Washington County, Ark., with the Washington County Civil Attorney’s office, and with the DeKalb County, Ga., public defender’s office.

“I started my pro bono work to gain experience,” said Brown. “I’ve found that unpaid work can be as valuable as paid work. I’ve been able to represent my own clients, argue in court, and have many other experiences I may not have had in a paid position. Plus I’ve been able to help those who may not have been able to afford legal assistance otherwise.”

Odima volunteers her time preparing meals for the Seven Hills Homeless Shelter in Fayetteville, Ark., serving with Equal Justice Works and Legal Aid of Arkansas, and volunteering at University events such as Make a Difference Day and Students’ Day of Caring.

“I’ve done volunteer work all my life,” said Odima. “At first it was required, then it became a way of life for me. It just makes me feel good to give back.”

Walker has served as a clerk to a juvenile court judge and worked with the Department of Labor Regional Solicitor’s Office in Atlanta, Ga.

“Every law students’ dream is to obtain a good paying job, however, that is not my sole motivation — I want to work in the public sector, ” said Walker. “I want to make a difference. After the Bar exam I plan to move back to my hometown of Augusta, Ga., with aspirations of working as the Juvenile Public Defender.”

The Latin phrase for volunteer work, pro bono, means “for the good.” Students earn pro bono hours by volunteering in legal or non-legal capacities, though many students work mainly with private-sector attorneys, Public Defenders, and nonprofit legal organizations. The volunteer work consists of everything from research to practicing under the license of a certified attorney. In order to be considered, students must work with members of the community who are disadvantaged. They cannot accept any kind of compensation for their services.

“We grant awards to recognize students who have had outstanding participation in the program. We hope those who attend the ceremony will hear the inspiring stories of each of our winners and be encouraged to volunteer their own time doing pro bono work,” Williams said.

The Pro Bono awards ceremony will feature Scott Gage, coordinator for the Washington County Teen Court, as its keynote speaker.

Images from top to bottom: Tiffany Brown, Lensa Odima, and Le'Joi Walker.

Contact:

Andy Albertson, director of communications
School of Law
(479) 575-6111, aalbert@uark.edu