Marywood Center for Law, Justice, and Policy
Current Student Resources
Resources Useful to Pre-Law Students: This file features links to educational resources from prestigious institutions and organizations like Yale University's Office of Career Strategy, the American Bar Association, and LexisNexis, aimed at supporting pre-law students through their educational journey with guidance on law school application, LSAT preparation, and acquiring necessary legal skills.
Resources for Domestic Violence: Links in this document include the National Domestic Violence Hotline, WomensLaw.org, and the Legal Services Corporation, offering legal information, resources for protection, and support for victims of domestic violence.
Resources for Sexual Assault Survivors: This file compiles vital links to organizations like RAINN, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and the Office on Violence Against Women, which provide support, legal assistance, and information to sexual assault survivors.
Resources for Addressing Drug and Alcohol Issues: The document lists resources such as the American Bar Association, The Recovery Village, and the CDC, focusing on legal aspects and support for individuals facing alcohol and drug-related issues.
Resources on Race, Ethnicity, and the Law: The document provides links to documentaries, podcasts, and grants focusing on legal and social justice issues such as the documentary, "The 13th" and the podcast "Code Switch".
General Resouces for Pre-Law Students
Yale University's Office of Career Strategy offers comprehensive resources for pre-law students, including guidance on choosing and applying to law schools, financing law education, and a law school application timeline. They also provide opportunities for mentorship, LSAT preparation, public interest work, and interdisciplinary studies related to law.
The American Bar Association (ABA) emphasizes the importance of developing key skills and knowledge areas before law school. These include problem-solving, critical reading, writing and editing, oral communication and listening, and research. Acquiring these skills can provide a solid foundation for a legal education.
FindLaw offers extensive legal resources, including information on state courts, the United States Code (USC), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and the U.S. Constitution, among others. It is a valuable platform for understanding legal documents and codes.
LexisNexis provides tools for legal research, practical guidance, and case management, which can be beneficial for those looking to familiarize themselves with legal databases and research methodologies used in law school and the legal profession.
The Law School Toolbox suggests leveraging professors, American Lawyer articles, school law journals, and the Wall Street Journal Law Blog as excellent resources for staying informed about the law and legal education. Additionally, the American Bar Association’s website and publications like the Student Lawyer magazine are recommended for law students.
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) offers free resources for aspiring law students, including LawHub for navigating the law school admission process, a checklist for applying to law school, the LSAC Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Programs aimed at underrepresented groups, and resources for preparing for the LSAT. These tools can help with planning, applying, and choosing the right law school.
AccessLex Institute prepares the Legal Education Data Deck, which provides insights into law student trends, including undergraduate debt, scholarship aid, bar passage rates, and starting salaries. This resource is updated periodically to reflect the latest data.
The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) offers a vast array of resources for law students at all levels of their education, including interactive lessons, podcasts, webinars, and online courses on various legal topics. CALI also provides access to legal education books and materials, with an emphasis on leveraging technology to enhance the learning experience.
Environmental Law Resources
Environmental Law Institute (ELI):
Provides comprehensive information on environmental law including policy analysis, publications, and training programs.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Laws & Regulations
The official site for federal environmental laws and regulations in the United States.
Biomedical and Health Law Resources
American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA):
A key resource for legal issues in the healthcare field, offering publications and educational events.
National Institute of Health (NIH) - Bioethics Resources:
Offers extensive resources on bioethics, including research ethics and policy.
Criminal Law Resources
The United States Department of Justice:
The official site for the U.S. Department of Justice, providing resources on criminal justice, law enforcement, and legal policies.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS):
Offers a vast collection of criminal justice resources, including publications on various aspects of law enforcement and legal studies.
Civil Rights and Social Justice Resources
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU):
A major organization dedicated to defending and preserving individual rights and liberties.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - Legal:
Focuses on civil rights law and advocacy to fight discrimination.
Domestic Violence Survivors
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides a comprehensive list of legal resources, including information about protective and restraining orders, child custody laws, and allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and custody status of offenders 24/7. They also address the unique needs of victims of gender-based violence who have been criminalized.
Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, offers resources and initiatives to combat domestic violence and provides legal assistance to victims.
WomensLaw.org offers state-by-state legal information and resources for victims of domestic violence, including safety tips for leaving an abuser and links to downloadable court forms.
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) provides financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. It funds independent nonprofit legal aid organizations across every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories.
The Office on Women's Health lists resources by state on violence against women, offering contacts for various support services in each state.
Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DV LEAP) provides pro bono legal representation for domestic violence survivors who are appealing against abusers or defending an appeal.
Sexual Assault Survivors
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Offers a National Sexual Assault Hotline for confidential 24/7 support, and provides information on local service providers. Hotline: 800.656.HOPE (800.656.4673)
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Provides leadership in preventing and responding to sexual violence through collaboration, sharing, and creating resources, and promoting research.
Office on Violence Against Women (OVW): Offers information on finding local help and national hotlines for victims of sexual assault.
Legal Assistance For Victims (LAV) Program - U.S. Department of Justice: Aims to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Legal Aid for Survivors of Sexual Assault (LASSA): Offers free and confidential legal advice and services by phone, connecting victims with legal aid providers and supportive resources.
Drug and Alcohol-Related Issues
American Bar Association (ABA) - Alcohol Use Disorders: Offers resources and information on alcohol use disorders, treatment options, and how these issues specifically affect lawyers, including lawyer assistance programs (LAPs) for legal professionals dealing with alcohol use disorders.
The Recovery Village: Provides comprehensive information on the intersection of legal issues and drug use, particularly focusing on juveniles. It highlights the prevalence of drug and alcohol influence among juvenile offenders and the consequences they face, including legal trouble and the potential for repeat offenses without proper intervention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Alcohol Related Resource Center: Offers a resource center that provides information on preventing excessive alcohol use and supporting states and communities in these efforts. It includes publications, online tools, and data to help understand and combat alcohol-related issues.
Race, Ethnicity, and the Law
A 2017 documentary recounting the stories of Rodney King and Latasha Harlins.
YouTube. (2017, April 5). LA 92 - official film trailer | national geographic. YouTube.
A documentary that traces the origins of the prison system to that of the institution of slavery.
YouTube. (2016, September 26). 13th trailer (2016). YouTube.
Follows the story of Jordan Davis who was shot and killed while listening to music in the parking lot. The suspect was only found guilty after a retrial and extensive media coverage.
YouTube. (2015, May 11). 3 1/2 minutes, ten bullets official trailer 1 (2015) - documentary HD. YouTube.
Examines the modern-day black experience during the civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter, and in Hollywood.
YouTube. (2017a, January 5). I am not your negro - official trailer. YouTube.
Uncovers the story about Sandra Bland, a black woman pulled over for a traffic violation who was found hanging in her cell two days later.
YouTube. (2018, November 27). Say her name: The life and death of Sandra Bland (2018) | official trailer | HBO. YouTube.
Documents the protests and unrest in Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray who died after injuries sustained after being arrested.
YouTube. (2017c, October 20). Baltimore Rising (2017) | official trailer | HBO. YouTube.
About the death of Michael Brown and the uprisings in Ferguson, Missouri.
YouTube. (2017c, August 4). Whose streets? - official trailer. YouTube.
Highlights Alabama Attorney Bryan Stevenson who has made it his life mission to combat racial inequality in the U.S.
YouTube. (2019, June 10). True justice (2019) | official trailer | HBO. YouTube.
A six-episode documentary about 16-year-old Kalief Browder who was accused of stealing a backpack, but spent three years in jail due to his family's lack of money to pay his bail.
YouTube. (2016b, December 15). Time: The Kalief Browder Story trailer. YouTube.
Shows how segregation continued even after the ruling of Brown v Board of Education.
YouTube. (2016a, July 21). Teach us all (documentary trailer). YouTube.
The examination of Yance Ford's family and the death of his brother William. William was shot and killed by a white man at an auto shop, he was unarmed.
YouTube. (2017d, August 22). Strong Island | official trailer [HD] | Netflix. YouTube.
Originally started out as a blog but was later turned into a weekly podcast that explores the issues regarding race, culture, and politics.
NPR. (n.d.). Code switch. NPR.
Explores stories from the black community that aren't often talked about in mainstream media.
Day, L. (1970, April 18). The stoop. The Stoop.
Each episode features an easy to understand explanation of the week's top stories and interviews with the hosts and special guests.
Pod save the people. Crooked Media. (n.d.).
Explores the gap between good intentions for diversity and the impact of those intentions.
7 Way to Lead Your Team During a Racial Crisis, Five norms causing your diversity efforts to fail, & Spaces, S. to C. (n.d.). The diversity gap. The Diversity Gap.
This grant from Notre Dame is used to continue with the mission to combat systemic racism and support communities of color.
Marketing Communications: Web | University of Notre Dame. (n.d.). Research grants. Notre Dame Initiative on Race and Resilience.
An audio series about how slavery has transformed America through connecting the past and present.
The New York Times. (2020, January 23). Listen to “1619,” a podcast from the New York Times.
Examines the impact that overworked and underfunded public defenders has on the American criminal justice system.
Public Broadcasting Service. (2019, October 29). Broken justice. PBS.
About the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the lives of those who are still suffering from governmental neglect.
Atlantic Media Company. (n.d.). Floodlines. The Atlantic.
Talks about the role that private sector American organizations have in sustaining the fight for racial justice.
Review, H. B. (2020, June 9). HBR IdeaCast: Corporate America’s work in fighting racism is just beginning on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts.
Podcast hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory.
Intersectionality matters with Kimberlé Crenshaw. SoundCloud. (n.d.).
Discusses the lack of African American CEOs and the actions current CEOs are taking to combat racism. A wake-up call for corporate America.
Economist, T. (2020, June 16). Money talks from The Economist: Money talks: What USA Inc can do about racial injustice on Apple podcasts. Apple Podcasts.
Hosts "go back in time" to understand present as well as the history of systemic racism.
NPR. (n.d.-b). Throughline. NPR.
Shows the two sides of people in the city Montreal. One side are the youth with no voice and no power. The other side are the police who have a voice and life and death power.
Public Broadcasting Service. (2019b, November 14). Zero tolerance. PBS.
Brings the work of Tim Wise to the screen. Shows how white privilege continues to shape individual attitudes, electoral politics, and government policy in ways too many white people never stop to think about.
Stream Classic Cinema, indie film and top documentaries. Kanopy. (n.d.).
Outlines the ways in which race, identity, and hair are all related and offers a compassionate viewpoint on issues that affect African descendants.
Back to natural. Back to Natural. (n.d.).
Surrounds the "double edge sword" of racial and gender oppression that black women face in America.
Black Feminist Documentary. ZANAH THIRUS. (n.d).