Thomas M. Cooley School of Law Project

The Thomas. M. Cooley Project will be focusing on support of solo and small-firm practitioners through a program designed to educate our students before graduation regarding the opportunities and pitfalls of that style of practice.  The Career Services Office at Thomas M. Cooley already houses a Solo Support Center with materials and services designed to support students before and after graduation with information regarding the operation of the law firm as a business.  In addition, materials are readily available for alumni to become current on law management trends and opportunities.  Finally, we have some volunteer mentors available in many parts of the country and a system of soliciting and selecting more volunteers as the need arises. 

Regarding our access to justice component, we are currently one of the most diverse law schools in the nation.  Supporting our graduates who go into solo or small-firm practice so that they establish financially viable law offices provides additional opportunities for those who are traditionally under-represented by placing minority practitioners into solo or small-firm practices where most pro bono work traditionally occurs.  We also have a professionalism program with major emphasis on pro bono work while still students to encourage this type of behavior for all of our graduates.