Notre Dame’s GALILEE Program
Group Alternative Live-In Legal Education
Robert L. Jones, Jr.
Notre Dame Law School
October 2007
GALILEE Basics
What:
A three-day public interest law urban
immersion program
Who:
First year law students participate.
Previous participants run the program.
Where: Cities throughout the country
When: Over winter break during first year
Why:
Spur an interest in pursuing public interest law
either full time or through pro bono work
GALILEE Basics
How Does It Spur Interest In Public Interest?
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Allows students to observe firsthand the
urban problems that public interest lawyers
confront and how public interest lawyers are
addressing them.
Enfleshes public interest law
“I can see myself doing that.”
GALILEE Basics
How many: 50+ students (> 25% of class)
How much (budget): $ 0.00
How many credits: One
How long has it been running: 27 years
GALILEE Basics
NOT a pro bono program
Creates a DISPOSITION to do pro bono work
Structure of Immersions
 Small groups of students: 4-7
 Cities of their choice
 Common lodging and meals (allows students
to process experiences)
 Daytime visits to agencies and law offices
(approximately three visits per day)
 Service project
Locations of GALILEE Visits
Itineraries
 Civil Legal Services Providers
 Social Service Providers
 Governmental Agencies
 Law Enforcement Agencies
 Law Reform Organizations
 Prosecutor/Defender Offices
 Private Law Firm Pro Bono Department
Sample Itinerary – New York
Wednesday January 3, 2007
10:30 am Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom (pro bono coordinator)
2:30pm
Brooklyn Family Court
Sample Itinerary – Day 2
Thursday January 4, 2007
10:00 am Legal Aid Society (Criminal
Division)
2:00pm
Cabrini Immigration Clinic
3:45pm
Urban Justice Center
7:00pm
NYPD Ride-Along
Sample Itinerary – Day 3
Friday January 5, 2007
10:00am
NYC DA
11:00-4:00pm Books for Kids Foundation
(service project)
Why Sponsor GALILEE?
 Counter public interest drift and “values drift”
in the first year
 Literature suggests keys are having some
public interest involvement and having a
supportive community
 Many students are not familiar with social
justice problems or the role of public interest
lawyers
Program Benefits
“Entire worlds exist in my own country – in my
own city – that I basically grew up oblivious
to.” GALILEE Participant
Program Benefits
 Counters 1L public interest drift:
“GALILEE reminded me of why I came to law
school in the first place and energized me for
my second semester.” Galilee Participant
Program Benefits
 Counters 1L public interest drift:
“After beginning law school, my plans slowly
changed. I was acquainted with the reality of
graduating with incredible student debt. . . I
slowly left behind what I considered just ‘a
little girl’s dream.’ While partial to public
service, I began to explore other areas.
GALILEE caused me to revisit the idea of the
law and my role in society as a citizen and as
a lawyer.”
Program Benefits
 Makes public interest and pro bono work less
hypothetical
“GALILEE helped me to get a better sense of what
kind of job I would like to pursue upon graduation.”
GALILEE Participant
“Before GALILEE, I was unsure exactly how I would
find pro bono opportunities that would interest and
stimulate me. Now I know.” GALILEE Participant
Program Benefits
Leads to summer public interest jobs
Nuts and Bolts -- Student Driven
 Students choose cities (must have at least
four participants per city)
 Students choose dates
 Students create own itineraries
 Past participants serve as program leaders
Nuts and Bolts – Process & Timeline
 Formation of Student Leadership Team – Spring
 Mailing to Incoming 1Ls – Summer
 Promotion – Orientation talks, student fair, speak to
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1L classes, web page -- Fall
Informational Lunch Meeting – Early October
Organization Lunch Meeting – Late October
Fall Orientation Session (1/2 day) – Early November
Immersion Over Winter Break
Journal and Reflection Paper
Debriefing Session (1/2 day) – Late January
(includes other faculty)
GALILEE Web Page
http://law.nd.edu/GALILEE/
Discussion
 Do you know of other law school programs that provide students with
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intensive public interest experiences over over academic breaks?
What are the pros and cons of such programs?
Could such a program be implemented in your law school?
What challenges would you need to overcome?
How might the program be designed? Are there elements of the NYU
or Notre Dame program that you would adopt or eliminate? Are there
additional features you would add?
How might you deal with the following issues:
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Funding
Promotion/Recruitment
Transportation
Housing and meals
Buy-in from law school administrators/faculty
Faculty or staff oversight
Credit - Is it possible? Necessary?