Carmel Dooling, '17, named Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month
Editor's note: The Pro Bono Board, a student group committed to expanding pro bono knowledge and opportunities to students, names a Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month. The November honoree is Carmel Dooling, ‘17. Becca Smith, a member of the board, wrote this story on her work. For more information on pro bono work, visit the Pro Bono Service Initiative website or contact Shehnaz Mansuri in the Office of Career Services.
Carmel Dooling,’17, began participating in pro bono work before classes even started—and by mid-October had already contributed 19 hours toward the Pro Bono Pledge. In September, she met with clients at the walk-in Woodlawn Legal Clinic run by the Legal Assistance Foundation and DLA Piper. She also has volunteered with Instituto del Progreso Latino, helping lawful permanent residents fill out documentation in their path to citizenship.
Carmel said she enjoys being able to give people peace of mind and help them advocate for themselves.
“We’re in law school, and we’re confused about the law, so for people with no legal background it’s really confusing,” she said.
Carmel decided to get involved in pro bono work because she thinks it’s a great way for students to put their problems in perspective. Immigration is a personal and important subject for Carmel because her grandfather was a migrant farmworker. She also speaks conversational Spanish and thought it would be a great way to keep practicing her language skills.
As an undergraduate at Arizona State University, Carmel worked on political campaigns and canvassed Latino neighborhoods. As the president of an organization working with refugees in elementary school, she helped students adjust to living in the United States. Carmel also worked for the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, providing people with legal information.
Carmel doesn’t know what kind of work she wants to pursue after law school, but she likes that pro bono work is something she can do while at a law firm or working in the public interest sector. Besides racking up pro bono hours, Carmel decompresses through downward dogs or enjoying her homemade pavlovas (although probably not at the same time).
The Pro Bono Board is excited to present Carmel Dooling as November’s Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month!