By Renée DeMoss, OBF President

Who was president when the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed? What year was the Constitutional amendment enacted that gave women the right to vote? These are the types of questions that an alarmingly high number of young Americans students cannot correctly answer. Indeed, the lack of knowledge American students have about U.S. history and the democratic process has been termed a “crisis.”

Another “crisis” said to be facing our country is the enormous need for pro bono service from lawyers. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of the legal needs of persons in the United States with limited income are currently unmet.

Recently the OBF agreed to fund two grant requests that may help address these crises — one that encourages Oklahoma students to learn more about the American democratic process and another that enriches the legal educations of Oklahoma law students by helping them provide pro bono services to those in need. Under an OBF policy that supplies funding in certain circumstances outside the usual grant cycle, the foundation awarded funds to support Norman High School students and law students from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, with projects designed to aid them in learning more about our laws and legal system.

First OBF grant awarded to Norman High School

Norman High recently outscored other Oklahoma schools to become state champions of the “We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution” competition. The “We The People” program is a nationally acclaimed curriculum that focuses studies of middle and high school students on the history and principles of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. A recent nation-wide study of the program confirms that students learning this curriculum display significantly greater “political tolerance” and commitment to principles enunciated in the Constitution and Bill of Rights than do students learning through traditional textbooks and teaching methods.

Based on their studies of the “We the People” materials, students first compete in their own classrooms and then with other area schools in simulated congressional hearings, where they evaluate, take and defend positions on historical and contemporary political issues. During the competitions, the students prepare oral presentations and field questions from judges designed to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of how democracy works in the United States.

The Oklahoma state competition was held at the State Capitol Building and competing teams were ranked by Oklahoma judges. The Norman team advanced to represent Oklahoma in the national competition to be held in Washington, D.C. in May, where they will compete against teams from the other 49 states and the District of Columbia. OBF funding will help send the Norman students to the national competition.

The University of Oklahoma College of Law pro bono program “Students for Access to Justice” receives second grant

The “Students for Access to Justice” program provides OU law students with volunteer opportunities to work on legal issues through internships with Oklahoma organizations, government agencies and courts at every level.

In January 2008, five students from the OU SATJ program traveled to New Orleans to volunteer with the Student Hurricane Network. The Student Hurricane Network is a national network of law students dedicated to advancing the cause of social justice in communities affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While there, the students worked with the New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation by helping attorneys with bankruptcy issues. They also worked with the Louisiana Justice Institute, a non-profit legal advocacy organization created to address the urgent needs poor and minority communities have in rebuilding their neighborhoods. The students completed surveys and informed displaced residents living in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer parks about rights they have to receive assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Deeply moved by the pro bono work they did in New Orleans, the five OU students returned from New Orleans with a real appreciation for the impact that quality legal assistance can make in the lives of others. With great enthusiasm, those five students motivated 15 more students to forego their spring breaks and go back to New Orleans to continue their pro bono work in this devastated area. The OBF helped fund this worthwhile educational experience for the OU law students.

During this trip, many of the students worked on another project designed by the Louisiana Justice Institute. The students went door to door to every house in the Ward 27 neighborhood to gather information about each house and the legal problems the residents face in rebuilding.

Law students Walt Cromwell, Toby Frisen and Joanne Lafontant had the opportunity to assist an 80 year old gentleman who had worked as a mechanic for the Tuskegee Airmen. He was still living in a FEMA trailer and was battling ailments caused by formaldehyde in the trailer. He was struggling to rebuild his home of 45 years where he had raised his children, and was dealing with rising costs for building materials and the endless red tape involved in obtaining government assistance. Other students helped similar clients negotiate through the myriad roadblocks they faced in obtaining assistance to rebuild their homes. The students were glad for the opportunity to participate in the program, and the lessons learned will serve them well in their future legal careers. Student Mary Walters stated, “The little bit that I was able to give was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. If everyone gave one week, it would make a huge impact.”

OU law students Brad Wilson and Mike Davis were among those who worked with the Orleans Public Defender’s Office, which represents people accused of committing crimes in the Orleans Parish and who cannot afford private attorneys. Mr. Davis assisted the office in updating files, organizing case loads and ensuring that no one slipped through the cracks by failing to be assigned an attorney. Mr. Wilson conducted interviews with five inmates at the Orleans Parish Prison to obtain information about the facts of their cases and their criminal histories and to familiarize them with the procedures followed by the Orleans Public Defenders Office. He also worked with a student studying social work to conduct psychosocial assessments to determine if the five inmates required treatment for post traumatic stress, substance abuse or other health related problems. Mr. Wilson is interested in criminal defense work and enjoyed learning the holistic approach of the Orleans Public Defenders Office. “I hope the work we did will not only help the inmates get fair and just treatment in the legal system but will also get them the help they need to stay clean and out of the system.”

You can be a part of the initiative to help Oklahoma students gain valuable experiences like these through membership in the OBF Fellows program and through other general contributions. Join with other Oklahoma attorneys and help us to make a real improvement in the lives of others by completing the Fellow enrollment form that follows. Annual Fellow payments of only $100 still go a long way and help many diverse law-related programs!