Sections Support VLN Internships

In ceremonies June 17, four MSBA sections joined together to present a check for $8,000 to the Volunteer Lawyers Network in support of the Judge George Beck Internship Program.

The Beck internship at Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN) was created to honor the many years of extraordinary public service of Judge George Beck by engaging law students to enable clients in poverty gain access to the legal system.  The students gain valuable legal experience providing service while earning a small stipend.

The internship was started by the Administrative Law Section under the leadership of David Aafedt and Judge Eric Lipman. This year, at the invitation of the Administrative Law Section, the Public Utilities Section, Health Law Section, and Public Law Section joined in contributing funds for the internship at VLN. As a result, total funds donated for the program this year were double those contributed in 2009.

Beck interns work closely with VLN volunteer attorneys and greatly leverage the attorneys’ time by doing client intake, finding legal resources, getting court files, and (under attorneys’ supervision) following up with clients after they have met with an attorney.

With the $8,000 donated in 2010, Volunteer Lawyers Network will be able to hire not only hundreds of hours of Beck intern work-study students’ time, but also hire a full-time VISTA attorney for one year, thereby carrying the purpose of the Beck Internship one step farther. The VISTA attorney will explore ways to increase the effectiveness of brief services at clinics, thereby building the capacity of VLN’s services to achieve positive client outcomes.