Alumni support for student scholarships helps alleviate the rising cost of living combined with the growing cost of education. These costs create significant barriers for law students aspiring to pursue public service law while attending UMKC.

UMKC Law has always supported public service career paths for students, which encompass legal work dedicated to government service, criminal prosecution and defense, helping underrepresented communities, advocating for social justice and ensuring equal access to legal resources often in rural communities. Public service law is a field driven by commitment to the greater good, often involving work in nonprofit organizations, government agencies and legal aid services. Empowering pro bono work

Students who are passionate about making a difference in the world are often deterred by the economic realities of law school. Taking unpaid field placements as students, which are crucial for getting hands-on experience and building a career in public service law, is simply not feasible for many students today. “Funding is the biggest challenge,” said Jennifer Dierks, clinical professor of law and director of the Field Placement Programs at the UMKC School of Law. “Students in the past have essentially said that they’d love to do this pro bono work, but they also can’t afford not to be paid.”

These unpaid placements provide invaluable experience, connecting students with networks that can shape their future careers. They offer students a chance to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings, allowing them to make a tangible impact on their communities. However, without financial support, many talented students are forced to forego these opportunities.

In one instance, Dierks recalled a student working four days a week on a pro bono case who found that the cost of downtown parking in Kansas City was prohibitive to continuing the work. She added that students are often doing part-time service industry or retail work in addition to their studies. Taking on a pro bono placement is “just not economically feasible,” she said. “Some of our students can’t afford to do any internships, and then they end up really struggling to find work.”

The law school is committed to encouraging students to take pro bono placements. One incentive is the Pro Bono Public Service Honors Program. This recognizes students who put in 250 hours of qualifying pro bono work under the supervision of a licensed attorney during their studies.

“We started this program because students were already out working for causes that they care deeply about and align with their values,” said Desiree Rognlie, director of the Pro Bono Public Service Honors Program. “We wanted to capture those hours and recognize students at graduation.”

The value of completing the program extends beyond those who go into public service law after graduation.

“We have found that incorporating this kind of work early on helps students connect their personal and professional values,” Rognlie said. “This is a way to apply their academic and legal knowledge and acumen early on, which sets up a strong foundation early in their career.”

Even if students in the program choose to go into private practice, the experience they gain will still serve their professional aspirations. “Most law firms value students who do the Pro Bono Public Service Honors Program, as they have paused to consider the weight and responsibility of having a legal education,” said Rognlie.

Many students are passionate about pursuing careers in public service law, but without financial support, their goals feel out of reach.

“During their studies, they may say ‘I want to be a public defender,’ for example, but then recognize how much it costs — life happens while they are completing a law degree,” Rognlie said. “They may get married, have kids, start to accumulate bills so they take private, higher paying jobs.”

Supporting future advocates

UMKC alumni can directly support graduates pursuing public service law by donating to the UMKC Bar Prep Program — a program that represents a savings of $4,200 per student. This is a cost that many students and public service law employers often struggle to afford. While the Bar Prep Program is included for the students at no additional cost beyond tuition and fees, the cost is still borne by the UMKC School of Law.

Without this support from the law school, students face tough choices — working part time while studying, taking out large loans or foregoing bar prep entirely. With 85% of UMKC School of Law students already receiving grants and scholarships for their education, the need for this additional aid is evident.

Yet, bar prep is just one part of the financial challenges students face. Patrick Brayer, associate professor of law at UMKC, pointed out that student loan forgiveness for lawyers who go into public service has been “a game changer.” Some graduates may be able to justify going to public service, thanks to the potential to have their loans reduced.

However, even with loan forgiveness, the higher salaries of private firms remain difficult with which to compete. “Many of our students are taking loans and money from family members,” Brayer said, “so it’s hard to justify turning away that money when you and your family are sacrificing so much.”

The law school’s faculty and staff are united in their belief that private law and public service law are vital to the profession. The worry is that public service law will find itself increasingly under-resourced, while the rising cost of living makes these services more essential than ever.