IRVINE, Calif. (April 11, 2024) — University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI Law) students once again spent part of their spring break doing what they do best — volunteering their time to help others. As part of UCI Law’s Alternative Spring Break program, 26 UCI Law students traveled to Louisiana, Mississippi and Montana in early March to provide pro bono legal services at a variety of organizations, accompanied by dedicated UCI Law staff and alumni.
Louisiana
UCI Law alumna Alexis Mondares (’20), Experiential Learning Coordinator at UCI Law, accompanied a group of eight students who volunteered with the 22nd Judicial District Public Defender Office in Covington, Louisiana. Under the supervision of UCI Law alumna Emily Genzlinger (’20) who serves as a public defender in the district, students delved into research intensive projects, working alongside public defenders on casework, client interviews as well as hearing and trial preparation. Students also observed courtroom proceedings.
Montana
Anna Davis, Director of Externships and Pro Bono at UCI Law, accompanied six students to Hardin, Montana, where they volunteered at the Big Horn County Attorney’s Office, located in a rural community just outside of Billings. Students worked with Big Horn County Attorney Jeanne Torske. At the county prosecutor’s office, the students completed research projects, observed trial proceedings, and met with federal judges. Students also had the opportunity to observe tribal court proceedings on the Crow Reservation and meet a tribal judge on the reservation. Third-year UCI Law student Victor Avila was able to make a court appearance.
Mississippi
Venturing into Mississippi, UCI Law students split into different groups to address a variety of legal needs in communities across the state located in Jackson, Biloxi and Gulfport.
Maryam Zomorodian (’20), Associate Director of Global Programs at UCI Law, accompanied two groups in Jackson. Four students partnered with Disability Rights Mississippi, where they visited mental health facilities and engaged in research projects. Meanwhile, another pair of students in Jackson worked alongside the Mississippi Center for Legal Services (MCLS), performing a wide variety of in-office work, including drafting questions for a direct examination. This marked UCI Law student Miriham Antonio’s second visit to volunteer at the MCLS office in Jackson.
In Gulfport, a pair of students volunteered at another MCLS office, where they assisted with legal research, client interviews, trial preparation, and document drafting. Their work encompassed a variety of practice areas, including contracts, divorce and custody, education, Social Security, insurance, consumer, and bankruptcy.
Four students journeyed to Biloxi, a neighboring city to Gulfport, to collaborate with the Mississippi Center for Justice. Immersed in community lawyering, they worked on a variety of hands-on, client-facing assignments over the week. For part of the week, the group participated in housing law-related outreach, including staffing the Center’s table at a Homeowners Empowerment Seminar in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and contacting community members about a housing investigation. They also worked on criminal expungements, observed proceedings at the Harris County Justice Court, and learned about practical procedural skills, including how to prepare electronic court filings. During their time in Biloxi, the group also had opportunities to spend downtime together and explore the local area, including dining at a Waffle House — a restaurant chain celebrated as a regional cultural icon in the South.
Students based in Biloxi and Gulfport had the opportunity to meet up and attend an evening educational outreach presentation on landlord-tenant law sponsored by the Mississippi Center for Legal Services and the Mississippi Center for Justice.
UCI Law’s Michael G. Ermer Pro Bono Program provides unique opportunities for students to volunteer during each academic break. These projects allow students to have a more intensive pro bono experience. The experience at the Mississippi Center for Justice is one of many opportunities provided during recent breaks. Learn more about UCI Law’s alternative break opportunities.
View the Photo Album: 2024 Pro Bono Spring Break
About the University of California, Irvine School of Law
The University of California, Irvine School of Law is a visionary law school that provides an innovative and comprehensive curriculum, prioritizes public service, and demonstrates a commitment to equity within the legal profession. Nearly half of all UCI Law’s J.D. graduates are people of color, and almost a third are first-generation students. At UCI Law, we are driven to improve our local, national, and global communities by grappling with important issues as scholars, as practitioners, and as teachers who are preparing the next generation of leaders. The collaborative and interdisciplinary community at UCI Law includes extraordinary students, world-renowned faculty, dedicated staff, engaged alumni, and enthusiastic supporters. Connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads, and sign up for our monthly newsletter for the latest news and events at UCI Law.