University of Dayton School of Law students had an opportunity to take their classroom knowledge on the road for some hands-on experience that made a big impact. An Alternative Spring Break the week of April 2-6, 2007, allowed students to complete pro bono work and help rebuild the areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

The trip was the idea of third-year student Molly Buckman, who had heard of other law students volunteering their talents in the Gulf Coast region through the American Bar Association. She decided that she had the time, had the desire to help, and definitely had an interest – she just happened to be molding an independent study course around disaster law.

“Organizations in New Orleans, Mississippi, and Texas are eager to have law student volunteers,” Buckman advertised on an informational flyer. “Over 30 law schools participated last year, donating 68,000 volunteer hours – the equivalent of having 32 extra full-time attorneys doing hurricane relief work.”

The 27 UDSL volunteers who participated hooked up with the Student Hurricane Network, comprised of law student volunteers from around the country. The trip was open to law students from all years; each student was matched with a legal agency prior to departure according to their experience and knowledge. Buckman said there are ongoing needs for volunteers to work in diverse areas of the law, from FEMA-related issues and documenting damage for insurance purposes (property law), to helping local governments set up elections (election law), to interviewing persons in jail awaiting trial for misdemeanors (criminal law). The trip will count for between 30 and 40 pro bono hours for those students who have taken the pro bono pledge.

In addition to fundraisers like a Mardi Gras bake sale, Dayton law firm Dyer Garofalo Mann & Schultz, the UD president’s office, the UD School of Law, the Dayton Bar Association Foundation, the Columbus firm of Isaac, Brant, Ledman & Teetor, and the American Bar Association contributed donations to the students’ trip.