For OU Law Professor Mary Sue Backus, this summer has meant cultivating more pro bono opportunities for students. She has attended trainings for two separate pro bono programs, The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program and the Clemency Project 2014.
The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program provides veterans and other VA claimants with free attorney representation in appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The claimants are veterans who have been previously denied by the VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals. The Program evaluates court appeals for merit and recruits and trains attorneys to represent those with meritorious claims. The Veterans Consortium consists of four veteran service organizations: The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the National Veterans Legal Services Program, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. The Executive Board of the Consortium is composed of representatives from the four veteran service organizations and members of the private bar.
Clemency Project 2014 launched in January to provide pro bono assistance to federal prisoners. Had these inmates been sentenced today, they likely would have received shortened sentences. Clemency Project 2014 members are currently collaborating to recruit and train attorneys on the prisoner screening process. It is composed of the Federal Defenders, the American Civil Liberties Union, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, the American Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as individuals active within those organizations and other lawyers wishing to participate in this volunteer effort.
For each of these projects, Professor Backus will serve as the lead volunteer attorney and plans to enlist the aid of students on her cases.
More News & Media
News
OU Law Professor Evelyn Aswad Named to Journal Record's 50 Making a Difference
Professor Evelyn Aswad and seven OU Law alumnae have been named Journal Record 2019 Fifty Making a Difference honorees, an award recognizing women business and community leaders across the state.
Melissa Caperton, Director of Communications
News
OU Law Professor Appointed to Uniform Law Commission
Chris Odinet, associate professor of law, has been appointed to a four-year term as one of Oklahoma’s eight delegates to the Uniform Law Commission.
Melissa Caperton, Director of Communications
News
OU Law Librarian Named to Fastcase 50
Darla Jackson, research and electronic resources librarian at OU Law, has been included in the 2019 Fastcase 50, an award that honors the nation’s top legal innovators.
Melissa Caperton, Director of Communications