NYU School of Law’s Alternative Spring Break Program Est. 2006

NYU’s ASB program gives students the opportunity to intern at a public interest organization during their Spring Break week. Participants gain hands-on pro bono experience, are exposed to pressing legal issues, and are introduced to public interest practitioners. Participants are organized in groups for each program site, so participants also enjoy the chance to bond with a diverse group of other NYU law students. Overview

Program Goals Leverage NYU Law resources to serve communities across the nation. Foster public service commitment among NYU Law students. Build organizational ties to nonprofits across the country. Create opportunities for public interest alumni to remain involved with the law school. Promote NYU Law’s strong public interest reputation by dispatching student ambassadors across the country.

History In March 2006, NYU’s Law Students for Human Rights (LSHR) partnered with the Student Hurricane Network to arrange a volunteer trip to the Gulf Coast. NYU trip participants served at 9 different organizations in New Orleans, LA and Gulfport, MS. Participants assisted with varying relief and rebuilding efforts, from advocating for voters’ rights to investigating allegations of police misconduct following Hurricane Katrina. Students traveled in a couple of large groups and lived in FEMA tents, on church floors, and on the coaches of gracious Tulane law students.

History The March 2006 trip was so successful it attracted the attention of the law school student body, NYU’s Public Interest Law Center (PILC), the law school administration, and NYU alumni. With help from PILC, LSHR secured funding from NYU to institutionalize an Alternative Spring Break program. The program launched in 2006.

Funding and Administration LSHR administers the ASB program. Specifically, LSHR’s two Domestic Service Chairs are responsible for all aspects of program administration. The Domestic Service Chairs are selected at the end of the preceding school year and are typically 2Ls. NYU provides funding for student travel and accommodations. This money is held by PILC for the program to use.

ASB and LSHR ASB promotes LSHR’s main goals to: PROMOTE global and domestic human rights issues at NYU School of Law; ESTABLISH a forum for human rights-related educational events, professional training, advocacy projects and direct action opportunities; BUILD a community for future human rights practitioners.

Implementation- Summer Domestic Service Chairs: Identify new sites and partner organizations; reach out to alumni and public interest practitioners; create the budget for the upcoming year’s program.

Implementation- Fall Semester Domestic Service Chairs: Host an ASB information session; Publicize the year’s program; Recruit and select two site leaders for each site; Supervise site leaders as they solidify site details, including internship placements and housing.

Implementation- Spring Semester, Pre-Spring Break Domestic Service Chairs: Host a second information session; Recruit program participants; Select program participants for each site, with help from site leaders; Assist site leaders in preparing for trips; Participate in ASB!

Implementation- Spring Semester, Post-Spring Break Domestic Service Chairs: Act as the liaison between PILC and participants to facilitate reimbursement process; Ensure all host organizations are thanked; Administer participant surveys; Turn over position to next year’s Domestic Service Chairs, with suggestions for program improvement.

ASB Overview Thirty-six students completed over 1,000 hours of pro bono work. Students volunteered for 15 different organizations in New Orleans, Miami, and the Bronx. Each site had 12 students total, two of whom were site leaders. Participants were substantially reimbursed for the cost of their travel, lodging, and food.

ASB Bronx Students interned with the following organizations: Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence Women’s Housing & Economic Development Corp. Legal Services for NY Bronx Defenders NY State Division of Human Rights Legal Aid Juvenile Division “Family Court is a zoo! Working with Legal Aid Juvenile Rights Division was a great opportunity to understand what a family-law legal services job is really like.”

ASB Miami Students interned with the following organizations: Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center Legal Services of Greater Miami Florida Legal Services Miami Workers Center St. Thomas Univ. Human Rights Center “I am hoping to find an organization like FL Legal Services to work with after graduation. I can't say that when I signed up I expected my ASB trip to influence my career path, but am glad it did!”

ASB New Orleans Students interned with the following organizations: Worker’s Center for Racial Justice/ People’s Organizing Committee New Orleans Public Defender Red Cross SHN’s FEMA Trailer Survey & Mapping Project “My positive experience with ASB made it more likely that I will make pro bono commitments when I work at a firm. I now realize the impact I can make in just a week.”

ASB Goals Increase total program slots from 36 participants (2007) to 56 participants (2008). Expand New York site from 12 participants in the Bronx (2007) to 20 participants throughout the City and Newark, New Jersey (2008). Add an additional site in Washington, DC. Improve the quality of participants’ experiences by arranging logistical details earlier.

New Orleans, Miami, and D.C. Disaster ReliefLegislative Action Immigrants’ Rights

New York City and Newark Community Action Criminal Justice

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