|
Sheila Schaeffer
November 2004
Sheila is a third year
law student who
has been volunteering
with the VLP
since her first semester
of law school.
During orientation, she
was introduced
to the VLP and knew immediately that
this was a program with
which she
wanted to be involved.
Initially, she
volunteered with the VLP
Domestic
Relations Clinic.
During the summer
following her first year,
Sheila inter-
viewed clients and helped
pro se
litigants prepare for
their Chapter VII
bankruptcy filings.
In Spring 2003,
Sheila was selected as
the student coordinator of the VLP
Advocates and has
held this position ever since.
Although Sheila's contributions to the VLP have been monumental, she
has
also actively contributed to the Rogers College's renowned
community service
climate. In addition to her membership on
the Community Service Board,
Sheila has served as an Ares Fellow and
participated in a wealth of service
organizations, including Lawyers
for Literacy, the Undergraduate Mentoring
Program, the Student
Animal Defense League, and the Juvenile Detention
Center Project.
Last spring, in recognition of her dedicated commitment to
public service, Sheila was awarded the Andrew Silverman Second Year Law
Student Award.
As
Sheila will be graduating in the spring, she will soon be retiring
as student
coordinator. VLP Director Michele Mirto states,
"Sheila has demonstrated
tremendous commitment to the VLP Advocates
Program. Not only has she
been an active participant in the
various clinics, but her role as student
coordinator as been
essential to the administration of the program. The staff
and
clients of the VLP will miss working with Sheila next semester, but
look
forward to welcoming her back as a volunteer attorney very
soon." As for her
experience in the VLP Advocates Program,
Sheila simply notes: "I am
extremely grateful for all the
volunteer opportunities I have been provided by
the University of
Arizona College of Law and the Volunteer Lawyers Program.
I
believe that the practice of law should be about helping people
during some
of the most difficult times in their lives. I hope that
my career and my life will
always reflect that goal."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past Outstanding Volunteer
Student Awards |
