2013-14 Pro Bono scholars: (from left to right) Andrea Meza, ’15, Simone Otenaike, ’15, Colleen Mulholland, ’15, and Rebecca Ojeda, ’14.
The University of Texas School of Law’s Pro Bono Program is pleased to announce the law school’s four Pro Bono Scholars for the 2013–14 academic year: Andrea Meza, Colleen Mulholland, Rebeca Ojeda and Simone Otenaike.
The Pro Bono Scholars Program provides scholarships to second- and third-year students who make a 300-hour commitment during the academic year to the UT Law Pro Bono Program. The scholars plan and implement pro bono projects and conduct research and outreach that furthers the mission of the program.
“I am extremely grateful for the work these talented students do to increase the law school’s capacity to serve,” said Tina Fernandez, director of the Pro Bono Program. “It is a pleasure to work with them.”
About the scholars:
Andrea Meza, ’15, is helping organize a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) immigration clinic and managing the DACA intake process. In addition, she is working on a parole packet project in partnership with the Domestic Violence Clinic and helping with the Pro Bono Program’s 2014 winter break trip to the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Meza has volunteered for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid and Catholic Charities of Central Texas. Last year she participated in the 2013 winter break trip and volunteered for the law school’s DACA clinics. She is involved in the Chicano Hispanic Law Student Association and Texas Law Fellowships.
Colleen Mulholland, ’15, is helping with the 2014 winter break trip and also working with Meza to organize a DACA clinic. She and Meza have conducted outreach throughout the Austin area, including distributing flyers, calling local schools and churches and giving DACA presentations to various groups. Last year Mulholland participated in the 2013 winter break trip and volunteered for the law school’s DACA clinics. She serves as a Society Program mentor and is involved in Texas Law Fellowships.
Rebeca Ojeda, ’14, helped plan law school activities in conjunction with the National Pro Bono Celebration Oct. 20 – 26. She works with law student organizations to facilitate and sponsor pro bono programming for their members. Ojeda is also assisting on a pilot project with the Travis County law library to have law students staff a resource table at Volunteer Legal Services walk-in clinics. Last year she was the public service chair for the Chicano Hispanic Law Student Association. This year she is editor-in chief-of the American Journal of Criminal Law.
Simone Otenaike, ’15, is helping plan the 2014 winter break trip and is working on materials for an expunction clinic that the law school’s School-to-Prison Pipeline Project will host in the spring to help young people expunge their criminal records. Otenaike participated in the 2013 winter break trip and volunteered for the law school’s DACA clinics. She is involved in the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society and the Board of Advocates.
About the UT Law Pro Bono Program:
The Pro Bono Program’s vision is that students at The University of Texas School of Law will engage in pro bono work to increase access to justice and develop a lifetime commitment to providing legal services to those in need. Launched in 2009, the Pro Bono Program is a project of the law school’s William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law.