Public Service Fellows Program

 

The Public Service Fellows Program recognizes students who volunteer legal service to a nonprofit (501)(c)(3) organization or to a governmental agency. Fellows will be recognized with a certificate and the PSF designation will be added to student fellows’ transcripts as well as in Hooding Program Materials.

There are four levels of distinction:

  1. Public Service Fellow: given to students who provide between 50 and 149 hours of volunteer legal service.
  2. Public Service Fellow with Recognition: given to students who provide between 150 and 249 hours of volunteer legal service.
  3. Public Service Fellow with Dean’s Special Recognition: given to students who provide between 250 and 449 hours of volunteer legal service.
  4. Public Service Fellow with the Dean’s Highest Honors: given to students who provide 450 or more hours of volunteer legal service.

All students enrolled at the Moritz College of Law who have completed at least their first semester of law school are eligible.

Students must identify an eligible sponsor either within or outside the college. The Director of Public Service and Public Interest must approve sponsors outside the college. Please note that LLM students on F-1 visas may only volunteer within Moritz College of Law or The Ohio State University in general, per visa regulation. LLM students who are permanent residents or US citizens may volunteer at organizations on or off campus. See Assistant Dean for Graduate and International Affairs, Tra Pham for specifics of the LLM process.

From within the Moritz College of Law:

  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, the Pro Bono Research Group, the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF)(Executive Board only), and mediation in the schools (even if one is also receiving a Certificate in Dispute Resolution);
  • Volunteering at Student Legal Services or any other OSU office performing unpaid legal work;
  • For JD students, the supervisor of each of the above programs, and students are responsible for submitting each volunteer’s hours to the Director. Students who received PILF summer fellowships need to apply separately, but may in fact qualify for some Public Service Fellow hours. Please see Cybele Smith if you are not sure about qualifying hours.

 

From outside the Moritz College of Law:

  • Volunteer legal or mediation work for a legal services provider which is a non-profit organization or other 501(c)(3) organization, volunteering for a judge, prosecutor, public defender, or other government agency (if the student does not receive academic credit);
  • The duties of the student will be directly and significantly related to legal research and drafting, and/or stages of legislation, regulation, litigation or alternative dispute resolution;
  • The attorney or supervisor assigning duties will accept responsibility for submitting a written evaluation of the student’s performance to the Director;
  • The student will not be compensated for his/her performance; however, the sponsor can reimburse the student’s out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Board Fellows Program participants can and should track their hours for submission.
  • Hours completed beyond the curricular requirements at qualifying organizations for externships and some Washington, DC Summer Program placements may also qualify.