Mission
Founded in 1996, the Center for Ethics and Public Service is a law school-housed ethics education, experiential skills training, and community engagement program devoted to the values of ethical judgment, professional responsibility, and public service in law and society. The Center’s mission is to educate law students to serve their communities as citizen lawyers.
History
For 27 years, the Center has served as an incubator and an accelerator for numerous public service initiatives. They include on-campus and off-campus clinics (Children and Youth Law Clinic, Community Economic Development and Design Clinic, Community Lawyering Clinic, Environmental Justice Clinic, Health Law Clinic, and Social Enterprise Clinic), programs (Brown University Institute at Brown for Environment and Society partnership, Dartmouth College Ethics Institute Internship Program, Professional Responsibility and Ethics Program, Street Law Program, and University of Miami Joint College of Arts and Sciences Program on Law, Public Policy, and Ethics), summer colloquia (University of Miami Environmental Justice, Policy, & Science), and oral histories and documentary films (Oral History and Documentary Film Project).
Center News
We are happy to announce that The Provost recommended the Center for Ethics and Public Service continue, with its next review during the 2025-2026 review cycle. Every five years, School-Based Centers and Institutes, must disclose their activities and undergo review by the Office of the Provost (OTP) in consultation with the Dean of their host school. The review is rigorous and thorough. In his review, the Provost noted that the Center has made notable contributions to our community. That recommendation was voted on and approved by the faculty senate.
Programs
The Center operates three programs: the Community Equity Lab, the Historic Black Church Program, and the Legal Profession Program. Program faculty, staff, and students collaborate with schools across the University of Miami as well as the Florida bar and bench; anti-poverty, civil rights, environmental, and public health organizations; and faith-based groups, nonprofit corporations, and civic and neighborhood associations.
Projects
The Community Equity Lab houses two projects: the Health Equity Project and the Housing and Community Equity Project.
Community Impact
Since 1996, Center faculty and staff have trained more than 1,382 graduate and undergraduate fellows and interns, and collaborated with more than 48,081 civic leaders in anti-poverty, civil rights, environmental justice, and public health campaigns. Center faculty also have been widely cited in law journals and in the media.
