Community Service/Public Interest Opportunities
The Legal Aid Society organizes a number of opportunities for students to participate in pro bono legal work and community service events. For example:
Phone Bank - Nashville Legal Aid Society
The Nashville Legal Aid Society phone bank program is committed to assisting low income and otherwise disadvantaged clients who are unable to afford legal representation in civil lawsuits. If assisting the indigent, gaining practical experience, working with attorneys in Nashville, or just building your resume seems interesting to you, please consider volunteering this year.
1L students have the opportunity to volunteer weekly with the phone bank program, interviewing real clients about their legal problems and helping the Nashville Legal Aid Society screen each case.
Nashville Metropolitan Public Defender's Office Externship
“The mission of the Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office is to provide zealous representation and to fight for equal justice for the indigent accused [of crimes].”
A small number of 1L have the opportunity in the spring semester to do an externship with the Nashville Public Defender's Office, assisting the indigent, gaining practical experience, and learning about criminal law.
Rule 31 Mediation Training
In recent years, LAS has offered course credit for Rule 31 mediation training conducted by the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center and sponsored by various Vanderbilt Law School Groups.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
Every year, law students receive training and work alongside community volunteers to assist low-income, elderly, disabled, and limited-English-speakers as they prepare their income tax returns.
Other Public Interest and Pro Bono Opportunities for 1Ls (Summer), 2Ls, and 3Ls
The Legal Aid Society endeavors to assist any student seeking to gain local experience in public interest law. Whether you are interested in general areas of law and community service (e.g., homeless legal assistance, immigration law, criminal prosecution, mediation, mental health law) or have identified a specific local nonprofit or government agency you hope to work with, LAS is happy to help you develop an externship or volunteer opportunity.