Law Student Volunteers

Volunteering provides law students with an opportunity to learn about how the law relates to the unique issues raised in the arts and by artists. Several former students are now VLAA volunteers.

Internships

We do not have a formal internship program but welcome law students who would like to volunteer during the academic year or summer months. Generally, students select a research project and work independently or in small groups. Some students assist with administrative tasks. We look for self-motivated, energetic and reliable law students. To apply, please submit a letter of interest and a current resume to vlaa@stlrac.org. Some law schools offer stipends for public interest summer internships. For more information, contact your law school's public service office.

Partnership With Washington University

"Working with Sinita to form The FAM Cultural Academy has been the highlight of my law school career," said Dan O'Connor. He participated in our public service program, which matches Washington University law students with new arts organizations seeking assistance with incorporating as nonprofit corporations and applying for tax-exempt status, which is a national model. Students are trained by VLAA volunteers Lawrence P. Katzenstein and Richard L. Lawton, Thompson Coburn LLP, and are mentored by St. Louis area attorneys. Our partnership with Washington University School of Law also includes hosting students working with the school's Intellectual Property & Business Formation Clinic. The copyright clearance research conducted by Toby Buloff enabled Elder Robert Woodie and other members of the Kennerly Temple Choir to produce its gospel CD, Upon This Rock. "We couldn't have done it without Toby. The Lord sent her our way," said Woodie.

Summer 2009

A dozen rising 2Ls spent their summer vacations volunteering at St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts. Volunteering introduces students to pro bono service, gives them practical experience and provides an opportunity to work with St. Louis area lawyers and other professionals.

Jessica Hille (pictured here), Erin McGowan and Laurie Washington were paired with Ligaya Figueras (pictured here), the St. Louis Publishers Association’s communications manager. The three law students researched and wrote several articles for the organization’s monthly newsletter on topics such publishing contracts and permission letters for reproducing copyrighted materials. They also compiled a glossary of copyright terms for Art Calendar, a national publication for visual artists. “These projects have given me the opportunity to learn about the practical applications of copyright law,” Hille said. “I liked exploring the intersection of art and law, and I know that I want to work with intellectual property law after graduation.”

Brent Harrison worked primarily on a new section of VLAA’s website that will help nonprofit arts organizations understand the legal issues surrounding websites. The project took Harrison through copyright, unfair competition, contracts, publicity rights, trademark and fundraising, among other topics. “Not only have I learned a lot about the laws that govern and affect Internet communications, but I have also gained an understanding of how the Internet functions practically,” he explained. “I found it very interesting to see the ways in which legal issues on the web are always emerging — the attempts to fit old world laws into the new world landscape is really fascinating — as are some of the new laws such as cyber squatting statutes.” Harrison received a pro bono stipend, and was mentored by Zachary L. Hammerman, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale.

Hille and Harrison attend Washington University School of Law. McGowan and Washington are students at St. Louis University School of Law. Jonathan Cole, Garrett Fischer, Josh Howell, Justin Ijei, Nicholas Klumb, Christian T. Misner, Katie Strutz and Mark Yossef also volunteered.