Cooley Law School isn't just the largest law school in the nation. They also have a mission to serve the communities in which they reside. "Cooley Cares" is a program for students, staff and faculty of the organization to support and participate in pro bono legal projects and nonprofit public service.
Last year alone, the Grand Rapids campus performed 325 hours of unpaid, non-legal public service and 1,268 hours of pro bono, not-for-credit legal assistance. And, with 800+ volunteers at their disposal, they hope to continue and exceed those numbers in the coming years.
"One of the most positive aspects of my law school experience at Cooley is that the faculty and administration strongly support and sponsor such activities and initiatives," explains Cooley law student Ana Boter. "There is a sense of belonging to the community here at Cooley that is unique among law schools. There is a philosophy that training future lawyers is achieved best with hands-on experience and imbuing students with a sense of service and attachment to the larger community."
Karen Rowlader, assistant director of the program, agrees. "It is a privilege to represent The Center for Ethics, Service and Professionalism at Cooley's Grand Rapids campus. I absolutely love my job! Every day, I get the chance to seek out or create opportunities to do good work in the community, and then I am able to encourage students, faculty, and staff at Cooley to join in and make a difference too."
The good this organization provides is overwhelming -- service to homeless veterans, legal assistance to renters, monthly visits to tenants with documented disabilities, start-up legal work for nonprofit organizations, counseling at soup kitchens, expanding programs at Teen Court and even providing help to those who are unrepresented through the Kent County Legal Assistance Center. The list continues to grow.
"Having the opportunity to engage in pro bono activities while at Cooley really brings my legal education full circle," says Channing Shor, student. "In the classroom, we learn the law through casebooks and professor lectures, but participating in pro bono work really brings my legal education into perspective. I get the chance to apply the concepts I learn in class to real life situations while giving back to my community. I can't think of a better way to practice what we learn in the classroom than first-hand experience."
Here's how you can be a do-gooder too…
• Donate to the "Cooley Cares" program by contacting Karen Rowlader at (616) 301-6800 x6708
Source: Karen Rowlader, Cooley Law School; Ana Boter, Cooley Law School; Channing Shor, Cooley Law School
Writer: Jennifer Wilson, Do Good Editor
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.