The Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida is assisting law students from Puerto Rico in continuing their studies in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
The PRBAF created the Student Temporary Assistance and Relocation program (STAR) to do as a relief effort for Puerto Rico that is specific to the legal profession. The organization has found schools in Florida and other states willing to accept students in their visiting student or transfer programs from the three Puerto Rican law schools affected by Hurricane Maria.
The University of Puerto Rico School of Law is, so far, the only one of the three island law schools that has been able to contact its students to extend the offer. 51 students will be taking advantage of the offer.
The other law schools are Interamerican University School of Law and Pontifical University School of Law.
“Each school and the UPR need to negotiate the terms of the participation, tuition, and regulations of the American Bar Association, which are quite restrictive,” reads a PRBAF press release.
Participating law schools include:
- University of Connecticut School of Law
- Florida A&M University College of Law
- University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law
- Florida State University College of Law
- Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law
- Florida International University College of Law
- Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- University of Missouri School of Law
- St. Thomas University School of Law
- Touro Law Center
- Columbia Law School
- George Washington University Law School
- University at Buffalo Law School-SUNY
- Vermont Law School
- Pennsylvania State University School of Law
- Iowa University College of Law
According to the release, “The Puerto Rican Bar Association and its related Scholarship Fund (a 501(c)(3) tax deductible institution) are raising funds for the incidental costs of the drastic and immediate relocation of the affected students.
“Books, laptop computers, meal plans, and travel to the states are not covered by the universities, and thus, making these donations would greatly assist the law students in their transition from Puerto Rico. Our objective is to raise enough money to make the transition easier for those students who will be placed in Florida schools. Our contribution could also include housing counseling, provision of rental deposits for housing, and opportunities for cultural acclimation to Florida.”
Donations are to be made to:
The Puerto Rican Scholarship Fund, Inc.
517 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32806
They can also be made through direct deposit to Chase Bank, routing number 267084131 and account number 619125110.
Source: Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Florida Bar Association reporting.