It
was 4pm the afternoon before Winter Break Pro Bono Project sign-ups. I was on
my way to class, walking from the CDO down toward the Rotunda. As I got closer
to 4004, I saw a cluster of students moving chairs and tables around in the
hallway. I walked up, and, going on my suspicions, asked if they were there for
winter break project sign-ups. They replied that they were. They were there
literally 15 hours before sign-ups were supposed to start, and they were
planning on studying, eating, and sleeping there for that long to get the Pro Bono
projects they wanted. I was surprised, but more so ecstatic. Honestly, I had
been nervous about pretty much everything through the process of planning the
sign-ups – that I wouldn’t get projects, students would not like the projects I
got, no one would show up.
But I realized then that I really
should not have worried at all. I should have expected Carolina students to
show such enthusiasm and excitement for Pro Bono and serving the community.
That is truly a key part of what makes our community unique and Carolina great.
From then on, I wasn’t nervous at all. The next morning at 7am, the rest of the
amazing Pro Bono Board and I started signing students up for all sorts of
projects – ranging in type from corporate to public interest, from
environmental law to criminal law. We filled all the spots in no time!
The Winter Break Projects experience
for me was an affirming and inspiring one. It affirmed the fact that Carolina
Law believes in and supports Pro Bono work. It affirmed the fact that Carolina
students are truly excited about giving back to the community and helping meet
unmet legal needs. It inspired a hope that when we become lawyers, a lot of us
will continue to be committed to Pro Bono. It can be hard to decide to give up
some of your winter vacation to do legal work, especially after a hard semester
of school. But winter break sign-ups showed me that our students are really
happy to do just that.
Posted by Laura L. Kessler on Sun. February 14, 2016 5:40 PM
Categories:
General