FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas School of Law’s Pro Bono Program will host its second annual awards ceremony to honor students with the most volunteer service hours. The event is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, in the E.J. Ball Courtroom at the Leflar Law Center. The ceremony is open to the public, and a reception will immediately follow the event.

Awards will be presented to the four students who have accumulated the most approved volunteer hours during their law school careers. Susan Scott, a third-year law student from Blytheville, Ark., will be recognized for volunteering 380 hours. Rachel St. Fleur, a third-year student from Decatur, Ga., will receive second place honors for her 340 hours of service. Rochelle McCrackin, a third-year law student from Memphis, Tenn., and Tiffany Brown, a second-year law student from Detroit, Mich., each served 195 hours.

“The American Bar Association encourages all law schools to have pro bono programs,” said Susan Williams, the Pro Bono Program coordinator for the School of Law. “Pro bono work not only gives law students excellent experience in their profession but also teaches them to care about their communities.”

The Latin phrase for volunteer work, pro bono, means “for the good.” Students earn pro bono hours by volunteering in legal or non-legal capacities, though many students work mainly with private-sector attorneys and nonprofit legal organizations. The volunteer work consists of everything from research to practicing under the license of a certified attorney. In order to be considered, students must work with members of the community who are disadvantaged. They cannot accept any kind of compensation for their services. 

“We grant awards to recognize students who have had outstanding participation in the program. We hope those who attend the ceremony will hear the inspiring stories of each of our winners and be encouraged to volunteer their own time doing pro bono work,” Williams said. 

Lee Richardson from Legal Aid of Arkansas will deliver the keynote speech during the ceremony. Paul Batson, who is involved with the federal No Child Left Behind program, along with School of Law professors Carl Circo and Tim Tarvin, will also give brief remarks. 

Fifty-four law students participated in the Pro Bono Program this year through volunteer work in northwest Arkansas and their home communities. Together, they donated 1,987 service hours over the course of the 2007-08 academic year.