University Law student Kate Duvall was recently selected as a Hunton & Williams Pro Bono Fellow, a prestigious position given to one graduating Law student every two years.
Duvall said she will begin her job at Hunton & Williams next fall, after she passes the bar exam. She will be working full time at the firm's pro bono office in Richmond.
Duvall said she will be helping individuals who cannot afford legal assistance.
"Pro bono essentially means your clients can't afford to pay you," Duvall said.
The fellowship is two years long, so Duvall will be with the firm until October 2008, said George Hettrick, pro bono partner for Hunton & Williams.
Hettrick added that the reason for the fellowship is to promote opportunities for public service careers.
The office that Duvall will be working at is located in the Church Hill neighborhood of Richmond, Duvall said.
"It's the oldest part of the city and it's got some pretty low-income areas and a high crime rate," she said.
Duvall will also be dedicating some of her time working pro bono at the Central Virginia Legal Aid office in Richmond, said Angela Caldwell, the current Hunton & Williams Pro Bono Fellow and Law school graduate.
Central Virginia Legal Aid is a non-profit organization, and Duvall will be representing mostly victims of domestic violence, Hettrick said.
Duvall has concentrated on criminal and family law while at the University. She said her work at the firm will encompass all aspects of law including family law cases, employment cases and immigration cases.
"Basically whoever walks in the door will be my client," she said.
Duvall was selected for this fellowship because of her excellent credentials and past experience in the field, Hettrick said.
Duvall recently volunteered with the Hunton & Williams pro bono partnership, which enables University Law students to work with attorneys on cases in Charlottesville, Caldwell said. Caldwell added that she supervised Duvall and worked on three cases with her.
"Kate is an excellent candidate and I think she'll do really well" as a fellow, Caldwell said.
The firm will not only give Duvall a salary, but will offer her $10,000 for the two years she will work there in order to help pay back her student loans, Duvall said.
"It's really great to have opportunities out there like this," she said. "It's a good salary and they offer loan assistance."
Hettrick praised Duvall and her impressive record working at different legal aid organizations.
"It was clear to us that she really was devoted," he said. "We're very glad to have Kate."
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