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Stories to celebrate 25 years of the University of South Carolina School of Law Pro Bono Program and the ripple effect it has had on our state, nation, and even the world. Learn how our successful alumni have connected the knowledge of the classroom to their communities through service.

For the 22nd year volunteers with the USC School of Law Pro Bono Program have conscientiously prepared returns for elderly and low income tax payers in SC. For 8 weeks the trained and certified students work through the intricacies of the 1040. This year everyone had to learn how to navigate the Affordable Care Act and explain how it affects tax status. At the conclusion of tax season the team enjoys perusing the resulting data as they are reminded of the VITA program motto "You benefit, we learn."

On a sunny April day new members of the Pro Bono Board celebrated their selection with a picnic. They were joined by members of the 15 Board in addition to recipients of the Pro Bono Program annual awards. New officers are: Morgan Barham, Brooke Mosteller, Co-Presidents; Tony Johnson, Phillip Martin, Co-Vice-Presidents; Dalton Barfield, Secretary

Eleven students have completed training and are now ready to assist the Richland County Probate Court with guardianship cases. The SC Probate Court Special Visitors Project not only aids the Court with valuable investigations and reporting but the student volunteers gain important practical experience.

The latest edition of The Difference has arrived! Take a look and decide if one of the upcoming pro bono projects fits your needs does it provide an opportunity to expand the skills you will need? Does it peak your interest in a future career? For the very latest information on projects make sure to sign up on TWEN, follow us on Twitter or try the old-fashioned way come by the office and ask! A online copy of this publication is located here but students please note, your own personal copy is in your mailbox!

On a beautiful Fall Friday ten lawyers from Adams and Reese were joined by seven USC School of Law Pro Bono Program volunteers with one task in mind answer the over 65 questions awaiting responses on the SC Bar's website. By 1:30 there was resounding applause from the entire team as the number in the queue reached zero.

Tony Johnson, Sarah LaBruce, Abby Young, Kathryn McGrady, Jasmine Taylor and Ben Hepner have completed 24 hours of training, received their case files and are now ready to listen and help first time juvenile offenders in Lexington and Richland Counties.

Since June Sara Brinson and Chris Fedalei have had the opportunity to put their knowledge and skills to work at the Death Penalty Resource and Defense Center. The Center needed help with a very special project and looked to the USC School of Law for that help.

The SC Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (SCVLA) is a collaborative project of the USC School of Law Pro Bono Program, the USC School of Law Nonprofit Organizations Clinic, the SC Arts Commission and the SC Bar Pro Bono Program. The goal is to provide legal assistance on arts related matters to low-income artists and arts organizations in SC through the generosity of pro bono attorneys and law students.

Good Deed Friday is a once or twice a month community service project organized by the Pro Bono Program and conducted in conjunction with either the SBA or another student organization. It is open to all law students and is an opportunity to build on the camaraderie started at the Incoming Law Student Community Service Project.