Public Service and Community Work at USC and in LA
For students interested in providing public interest, pro bono, or community service, there are limitless ways to get involved. There are many law student organizations as well as campus-wide organizations actively engaged in community service. There are also numerous California-based and national organizations - many located right here in Los Angeles - that provide students with service opportunities.
USC Law Student Organizations Involved in Public Service
The USC Law student-run organizations provide excellent opportunities to engage in public interest, pro bono, or community service to wide range of different causes and communities. Below are some of the student organizations that have in the past had numerous community service projects:
- Legal Aid Alternative Breaks Projects
- USC La Raza Law Student Association
- Street Law
- Community Service Affairs Committee
There are, of course, other student organizations that have or plan to have, community service projects in the upcoming year. The best way to discover what the different USC Law student-run organizations offer is to contact them directly and ask to get involved. Some of these organizations run volunteer clinics, and others offer more indirect service opportunities. All these groups offer a way for any student to get involved with service to others no matter what her or his interests.
For a complete listing and contact information for all student-run organizations at USC Law, click here.
USC Campus-Wide Organizations Involved in Public Service
The following USC school-wide organizations are involved in various efforts to provide public service and advocacy opportunities. This list includes both organizations administrated by USC and organizations run solely by students. Where available, the particular organization's web page and contact information has been provided along with its description.
The USC School of Social Work
The USC School of Social Work, as an educational institution, is explicitly founded on a vision of equal justice for all people and the creation of a more just and compassionate society. As such, it features a variety of both school- and student-sponsored opportunities for public service.
For instance, the USC School of Social Work regularly sponsors presentations and conferences that address, from a multi-disciplinary perspective, issues that commonly come up in the practice of public interest or pro bono law such as domestic violence, cross-cultural client practice, and community organizing. See the USC School of Social Work "Events" listing here.
USC Volunteer Center
The USC Volunteer Center is dedicated to promoting volunteerism and service in the USC and greater Los Angeles communities. The Volunteer Center is a primarily student-run program within the Division of Student Affairs that offers exciting opportunities for students, alumni, faculty, and staff to get involved with the community. Each year, the Volunteer Center organizes numerous service projects, identifies volunteer opportunities and houses an extensive database of over 200 non-profits and other agencies that offer volunteer opportunities.
Check out the USC Volunteer Center site for a comprehensive listing of non-legal volunteer opportunities in the community around USC and the greater Los Angeles area.
USC Joint Educational Project
Founded in 1972, the Joint Education Project ("JEP") is one of the oldest and largest service-learning programs in the country, offering students at the University of Southern California the unique opportunity to combine academic coursework with experiences in the community surrounding the campus.
Each year, some 2000 students from over several courses receive academic credit for their participation in JEP. In addition, about 400 students serve as non-credit volunteers and share their time and special talents with their neighbors.
JEP is also home to the Trojan Health Volunteers, a program designed to serve pre-meds and health educators, and USC ReadersPlus, an America Reads / America Counts work-study affiliate.
See the JEP website "Student Opportunities" Section for detailed information on different ways to get involved in JEP Service Learning as a USC Law student.
USC Civic and Community Relations
The University of Southern California is committed to being a good neighbor. Over the years, it has built strong partnerships with the diverse communities that surround its University Park and Health Sciences campuses. Acting as a nexus to establish those partnerships is USC Civic and Community Relations ("USC CCR").
USC CCR harnesses the resources of the University and links them to those of the community to create and support a variety of projects and programs. As a result, USC, along with its partners and community stakeholders, has enhanced the quality of life of its neighbors by addressing educational, cultural, economic development and safety issues.
The staff of USC CCR collaborates closely with community leaders; community-based organizations; and USC faculty, staff and students. Staff members work to facilitate and implement USC's five University Community Initiatives, as well as document and evaluate the university's community involvement. USC CCR also administers several direct service programs.
See the CCR's "Service Opportunities" web page for a broad overview of service opportunities in and around USC.
National, California, and Los Angeles-Based Organizations Involved in Public Service
There are numerous national and California-based service organizations that can provide students with service opportunities. Although too many to list here, the following links serve as an excellent starting point for the student interested in seeing "what's out there" with regard to organization-based service opportunities.
The Career Service Office provides all USC Law students with access to excellent national databases of public service and government internships and jobs. Go the Career Services Office webpage that features these links. Note that these particular CSO resources are only accessible to USC Law students.
After looking through the comprehensive resources of the Career Services Office, visit these links as well for additional listings of prominent national and California-based service organizations.
Important Message to the Public
Please do not contact the Office of Public Service (OPS) for legal advice or representation. The OPS cannot provide legal advice to members of the public, except for the services provided through USC Law's specialized clinics.
For more information regarding the use of this website, please click here.
