Notre Dame’s GALILEE Program

Group Alternative Live-In Legal Education

Robert L. Jones, Jr.Notre Dame Law SchoolOctober 2007

GALILEE Basics

What: A three-day public interest law urban immersion program

Who: First year law students participate. Previous participants run the program.

Where: Cities throughout the country

When: Over winter break during first year

Why: Spur an interest in pursuing public interest law either full time or through pro bono work

GALILEE Basics

How Does It Spur Interest In Public Interest?

Allows students to observe firsthand the urban problems that public interest lawyers confront and how public interest lawyers are addressing them.

Enfleshes public interest law

“I can see myself doing that.”

GALILEE Basics

How many: 50+ students (> 25% of class)

How much (budget): $ 0.00

How many credits: One

How long has it been running: 27 years

GALILEE Basics

NOT a pro bono program

Creates a DISPOSITION to do pro bono work

Structure of Immersions

Small groups of students: 4-7 Cities of their choice Common lodging and meals (allows students

to process experiences) Daytime visits to agencies and law offices

(approximately three visits per day) Service project

Locations of GALILEE Visits

Itineraries

Civil Legal Services Providers Social Service Providers Governmental Agencies Law Enforcement Agencies Law Reform Organizations Prosecutor/Defender Offices Private Law Firm Pro Bono Department

Sample Itinerary – New York

Wednesday January 3, 2007

10:30 am Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &

Flom (pro bono coordinator)

2:30pm Brooklyn Family Court

Sample Itinerary – Day 2

Thursday January 4, 2007

10:00 am Legal Aid Society (Criminal Division)

2:00pm Cabrini Immigration Clinic

3:45pm Urban Justice Center

7:00pm NYPD Ride-Along

Sample Itinerary – Day 3

Friday January 5, 2007

10:00am NYC DA

11:00-4:00pm Books for Kids Foundation

(service project)

Why Sponsor GALILEE?

Counter public interest drift and “values drift” in the first year

Literature suggests keys are having some public interest involvement and having a supportive community

Many students are not familiar with social justice problems or the role of public interest lawyers

Program Benefits

“Entire worlds exist in my own country – in my own city – that I basically grew up oblivious to.” GALILEE Participant

Program Benefits

Counters 1L public interest drift:

“GALILEE reminded me of why I came to law school in the first place and energized me for my second semester.” Galilee Participant

Program Benefits

Counters 1L public interest drift:

“After beginning law school, my plans slowly changed. I was acquainted with the reality of graduating with incredible student debt. . . I slowly left behind what I considered just ‘a little girl’s dream.’ While partial to public service, I began to explore other areas. GALILEE caused me to revisit the idea of the law and my role in society as a citizen and as a lawyer.”

Program Benefits

Makes public interest and pro bono work less hypothetical

“GALILEE helped me to get a better sense of what kind of job I would like to pursue upon graduation.” GALILEE Participant

“Before GALILEE, I was unsure exactly how I would find pro bono opportunities that would interest and stimulate me. Now I know.” GALILEE Participant

Program Benefits

Leads to summer public interest jobs

Nuts and Bolts -- Student Driven

Students choose cities (must have at least four participants per city)

Students choose dates Students create own itineraries Past participants serve as program leaders

Nuts and Bolts – Process & Timeline

Formation of Student Leadership Team – Spring Mailing to Incoming 1Ls – Summer Promotion – Orientation talks, student fair, speak to

1L classes, web page -- Fall Informational Lunch Meeting – Early October Organization Lunch Meeting – Late October Fall Orientation Session (1/2 day) – Early November Immersion Over Winter Break Journal and Reflection Paper Debriefing Session (1/2 day) – Late January

(includes other faculty)

GALILEE Web Page

http://law.nd.edu/GALILEE/

Discussion Do you know of other law school programs that provide students with

intensive public interest experiences over over academic breaks? What are the pros and cons of such programs? Could such a program be implemented in your law school? What challenges would you need to overcome? How might the program be designed? Are there elements of the NYU

or Notre Dame program that you would adopt or eliminate? Are there additional features you would add?

How might you deal with the following issues: Funding Promotion/Recruitment Transportation Housing and meals Buy-in from law school administrators/faculty Faculty or staff oversight Credit - Is it possible? Necessary?