Committees

Federal Pro Se Legal Clinic (Pro Bono Section)

This Committee of the Federal Bar Association works with the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Pro Se Legal Clinic in providing critical legal services to community members in need.  As of summer 2020, the clinic has provided over 1600 hours of legal services.  The Clinic is critical to the administration of justice and was the idea of Chief Judge Denise Page Hood and Judge Victoria Roberts, both of the District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan.  Through their efforts, and through the support of University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Dean Phyllis Crocker, clinic director Kevin Carlson, numerous professors and volunteers, both attorneys and students, this clinic offers much needed legal education and advice in the areas of employment disputes, social security appeals, personal injury and contract claims to pro se litigants.  Committee members work with the clinic in recruiting volunteer attorneys who not only provide their expertise in the clinic, but serve as mentors to those students who work there.

The Clinic is open 3 afternoons a week and has an office in the District Courthouse.  Most recently our Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Clinic was awarded The Ilene and Michael Shaw Public Service Award, an award chosen by Federal Bar Association chapters nationwide.