Students in the Bankruptcy Pro Bono Clinic learn real-life attorney skills and earn academic credit by helping persons on a pro bono basis who cannot afford an attorney. The clinic teaches students the basic skills necessary to be an effective and creative bankruptcy lawyer. Students will conduct a broad range of legal services in the bankruptcy world, including the actual representation of pro bono clients in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tallahassee under the supervision of a local bankruptcy attorney. Students assist with client intake, identifying legal issues, and presenting arguments in court.
The Clinic is new and is patterned after similar clinics in the state. The United States Bankruptcy Court has certified the clinic so that the clinic students may actually appear in court. Our clinic students are able to combine traditional classroom learning with hands-on, real-world experience.
The Bankruptcy Pro Bono Clinic is directed by Professor Michael Markham. Professor Markham has been a bankruptcy practitioner since graduating from FSU College of Law in 1988 and has represented numerous parties in bankruptcy cases all over the country, including debtors, creditors, committees, and trustees. Professor Markham currently acts as a Subchapter V Trustee in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida.