Law Clinics receive grant from Capital Region Community Foundation

For Release September 16, 2003

Contact:
Barbara Anselmo
517/432-6848
Jacqueline Harrington
517/432-6849

The Michigan State University-DCL College of Law Rental Housing and Tax Clinics have been awarded a $4,000 grant by the Greater Lansing Fund of the Capital Region Community Foundation.

“This grant will help the clinics’ continued efforts to further develop our students’ fundamental lawyering skills and professional values,” said MaryAnn Pierce, director of clinical programs at the law college. “Integrating community service into legal education furthers our institutional commitment to service and sets a fine example for our students to continue to use in their professional careers.”

The Rental Housing and Tax Clinics provide legal services to low-income tenants, landlords and taxpayers in the Greater Lansing area and offer practical legal experience for second- and third-year law students. Under the supervision of clinical faculty members who are members of the State Bar of Michigan, law students offer confidential legal representation and learn to advocate for the less fortunate. In addition to operating the Rental Housing and Tax Clinics, MSU-DCL offers legal representation for small businesses, non-profit organizations and advocates on behalf of children in abuse and neglect cases.

The clinical programs are designated a 501(c)(3) charitable, tax-exempt organization by the Internal Revenue Service, allowing donors tax incentives through tax-deductions and tax-credits. Additional information about the Rental Housing and Tax Clinics is available at www.msudclclinics.org or by phone at 517/336-8088.

Michigan State University-DCL College of Law, formerly known as Detroit College of Law, was founded in 1891 and was the first law school in Detroit. To extend its commitment to educational excellence, the Detroit College of Law affiliated with Michigan State University in 1995 and moved to MSU’s East Lansing campus in 1997.

The move to MSU enabled the Law College to build a $28 million facility and to provide law students the benefits of a Big Ten university while maintaining its private law school status. Today, MSU-DCL remains the nation’s oldest continuously operating independent law school.

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