Paralegal Public Interest Law Clinic

A Joint Venture in Advocacy and Education:
Community Health Law Project & Montclair State University

The Paralegal Public Interest Law Clinic, which began in February 1994, joins two successful and effective programs: Montclair State University’s Paralegal Program, and the Community Health Law Project’s community-based advocacy and legal services programs for people with disabilities and the elderly.

Clinic Objectives

To expand the education and training of future paralegals. To provide legal services for people with disabilities and the elderly. To provide pro bono legal service volunteer opportunities for students.

Formal Education & Paralegal Services

Clinic cooperative education students are trained and supervised by a staff attorney of the Community Health Law Project. Their educational experience includes class seminars, client interviews, factual investigations, and legal research. Their clinic work is performed on the Montclair State University campus, in the field, and at the Bloomfield offices of the Community Health Law Project. Specific clinic projects include administrative appeals on behalf of clients seeking Medicare, Old, Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income as well as preparation of advance directives (living wills) for the disabled and elderly.

Pro Bono Project

Paralegal and pre-law students assist attorneys and staff advocates of the Community Health Law Project on selected projects related to public interest law as pro bono legal service volunteers.

Background Information

The Community Health Law Project is New Jersey’s unique advocacy and legal service organization for people with disabilities and the elderly. CHLP provides three major services: individual counseling and representation, public education and technical assistance programs for the bar and the general public, and advocacy and legal initiatives to address civil rights and other issues of broad concern to people with disabilities and the elderly. Since 1976, CHIP has employed paralegals as partners with attorneys to provide representation for individual clients. Under supervision of attorneys, and with their assistance as necessary, CHLP’s paralegal staff (called staff advocates) work with CHIP attorneys for the benefit of the clients.

The Paralegal Studies Program at Montclair State University is the only one at a four-year public college in New Jersey to have the approval of the American Bar Association. Paralegals are trained to work under attorney supervision in many areas of law. The program offers students a wide selection of legal specialty courses. Students must complete over 400 hours of study and an internship in the field to receive a program certificate. All program graduates also hold a baccalaureate degree. Over 1,000 students have graduated from the program.

The Paralegal Public Interest Law Clinic and Pro Bono Project are co-sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and made possible in part through funding from IOLTA Fund of the Bar of New Jersey. Annual scholarships are provided through The Federal Bar Association, New Jersey Chapter; The Kreiger Charitable Trust; Individual attorneys and paralegals; and Contributors to CHLP and CHLP 's Annual Ann Klein Awards Dinner.

For more information, please contact Dr. Lenore M. Molee, Department of Legal Studies at (973) 655-7963.

Paralegal Public Interest Law Clinic
Legal Studies Department
Montclair State University
Upper Montclair, New Jersey 07043
(973) 655-7958
FAX (973) 655-7951

Community Health Law Project
650 Bloomfield Avenue
Suite 210
Bloomfield, New Jersey 07003
(973) 680-5599
FAX (973) 680-1488

Last Revision February 2000