GSU COL Pro Bono Program

Project Description:
Safety Valve Project (SVP) connects pro bono and “low bono” defense counsel with public school students in need of legal representation at school expulsion hearings. SVP’s model takes a mitigation-forward, trauma-informed, restorative justice approach to expulsion defense to ensure school tribunals understand the backstory to the conduct giving rise to the expulsion hearing. GSU students interested in working with defense counsel in school tribunal cases will be assigned tasks to assist in case preparation ranging from client intake, mitigation triage meetings, records requests, coordination between counsel and expert consultants (social workers, counselors, psychologists, etc.), and advocacy at tribunals when feasible. Work is expected to be remote with potential in-person opportunities. Typical cases require 15-20 hours of work over a two-week period. Because cases arise throughout the public school calendar with little notice, no commitment is required of GSU students until SVP sends a “new case” announcement to its “on call” law students list.

How to Sign Up:
Express interest in the project here: https://forms.office.com/r/yFcXGET9Mv. Once we have sufficient interest, we will reach out to schedule a training session.

Contact probono@gsu.edu for further information, details, or questions about this project.