Welcome to the video-blog of Hamline University School of Law

Dean Donald Lewis

Available in both video and text format for your convenience

Hi there.  I have three items of interest today. Item No. 1 is the Innocence Project of Minnesota, a non-profit, volunteer organization that provides pro bono investigative and legal assistance to prisoners trying to prove their innocence.  The Innocence Project in Minnesota investigates potential claims of wrongful conviction from prisoners convicted of crimes in this state, and some cases in North and South Dakota.

The Project not only takes on cases of convicted but innocent people; it also educates attorneys and criminal justice professionals on DNA and other forensic practices, and works to reform criminal procedures, for example, its advocacy on the use of audio and videotaping of interrogations.

Due to the efforts of the Innocence Project nationwide, more than 200 innocent people have been released from prison after serving an average of 12 years for crimes they did not commit. Most of those exonerations have come as a result of DNA-testing. But the Minnesota Innocence Project does not limit itself to DNA cases, and will work on any case in this state where there is clear evidence of innocence.  It also reaches out to community groups to increase public understanding of innocence-related issues.

Welcome to the video-blog of Hamline University School of Law

Dean Donald Lewis

Available in both video and text format for your convenience

Today, I want to talk about the importance of pro bono service, the law school's new pro bono graduation requirement, and an upcoming training opportunity.

Lawyers enjoy a privileged and influential place in American society.   With the honor of a law license comes the responsibility to give back in the form of legal services without compensation for those who cannot afford to pay.  This long-standing commitment to pro bono service has been adopted by the ABA and state bar associations.  Many law firm and corporate employers long ago adopted expectations that their lawyers contribute 50 to 100 pro bono hours every year.

Hamline also has a strong tradition of serving underserved communities.  The Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF) and other similar agencies have afforded many opportunities for our students to counsel and represent pro bono clients as part of the student's legal training.

Accordingly, beginning with the law school class that entered Hamline this fall, each student will be required to perform 24 hours of pro bono service in order to earn his or her J.D. degree. The completion of this requirement will be noted on the student's transcript.

Welcome to the video-blog of Hamline University School of Law

Dean Donald Lewis

Available in both video and text format for your convenience

I have a couple of items for you today.  I begin with an advisory on the H1N1 flu virus.  We had our first report of a law student diagnosed with H1N1, so I want to make sure that you are doing all you can to stay healthy, and help keep your classmates healthy.

The most important thing to remember is to go home and stay home if you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms.  Go home, call your doctor, and take his or her advice about whether to come in for testing.   Also, call Counseling and Health Services at ext 2204 to report the illness, so we can keep track of its spread on campus.  And stay away from the law school until your symptoms pass.

Now, if you catch the flu, don’t worry about missing a few classes; just concentrate on getting well.  The law faculty will excuse and accommodate flu-related illness, but will expect you to make up the missed classes or missed work in some manner.  By the way, if you’re not sick, it would be a good idea that you regularly attend classes.  That way, in the event that you do get sick later in the semester, you will have some excused absences “in the bank” so to speak and won’t run afoul of your professor’s attendance expectations.

If a faculty member gets sick, we will notify you of the absence, the status of your class, and how it will be made-up.