Joshua H. Hernandez, L’22, Joins Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinics as Assistant Director

Joshua H. HernandezAs we point toward a new school year, the Law School’s Office of Public Service looks forward to welcoming new (or future) Marquette lawyers—and welcoming back one of our own. Specifically, as we continue working to expand access to justice, the Law School has named Joshua H. Hernandez, L’22, assistant director of the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinics.

The MVLCs connect community members facing civil legal challenges with free legal advice. At each legal clinic, volunteer attorneys work alongside volunteer law students to provide guidance and support to those in need. What began in 2002 as a single evening clinic has grown into a network of neighborhood-based clinics that serve thousands of individuals each year. More generally, the MVLCs foster a culture of pro bono service among lawyers and their “successors” in the profession (i.e., current law students).

Josh Hernandez will work in the Office of Public Service with me, as assistant dean, and Katie Mertz, L’11, as director. He will help oversee MVLC operations and recruit, support, and supervise law students and volunteer attorneys. His work will include leading the MVLCs’ Mobile Legal Clinic, which brings legal services directly into Milwaukee neighborhoods where it may be difficult for people to receive help. These services include a growing focus on estate planning and probate matters for low-income individuals and families.

Josh brings a longstanding connection to the MVLCs. As a Marquette law student, he volunteered extensively with the clinics—completing more than 300 hours of pro bono service, serving on the MVLC student advisory board, and earning the Milwaukee Bar Association’s 2021 Public Interest Law Student of the Year Award. After graduation, he continued his involvement as a volunteer attorney while practicing with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. Indeed, the Milwaukee Justice Center honored him with its Jon Allen Pace Setter Award as Volunteer Attorney of the Year in 2025.

More could be said about Josh, who serves as treasurer of the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association and on a number of community boards. Suffice it here to say his experience as a former student volunteer, a volunteer attorney, and, most generally, a Marquette lawyer positions him well to help advance the MVLCs’ mission of expanding access to justice while supporting the law students and lawyers whose service makes that mission possible. We are very glad to welcome back Josh.

Continue ReadingJoshua H. Hernandez, L’22, Joins Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinics as Assistant Director

A Shout-Out to Marquette Members of the Annual AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll

The Association of American Law Schools (AALS), through its Pro Bono & Access to Justice Section, will soon release its fourth annual Pro Bono Honor Roll. This national recognition celebrates law students, staff, and faculty for their outstanding contributions to pro bono legal services.

This year, Marquette University Law School is proud to recognize Karli Ring, a second-year law student, Mindy Schroeder, program assistant to the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinics (MVLC), and Bruce Boyden, associate professor of law. A word of two about their pro bono efforts will help illustrate the broader efforts of the Marquette Law School community.

Karli Ring, a second-year law student, is a reliable presence at the MVLC, often stepping in at the last minute when other students have been unable to cover a shift. This fall, she committed to a standing weekly  shift at the United Community Center, where she helps lead operations. Karli takes on a wide range of responsibilities—setting up clinic space, prescreening clients, identifying legal issues, matching clients with volunteer teams, and making referrals as needed. A U.S. Army veteran (she served as a paratrooper), Karli brings discipline and a deep commitment to public service. She is inclined toward litigation after law school. In the meantime, she remains an essential member of the MVLC team.

Mindy Schroeder is at the heart of the United Community Center branch of the MVLC, one of the busiest clinic sites. Each week, this two-hour clinic serves dozens of clients, nearly half of whom are monolingual Spanish-speakers, and offers help with immigration matters as well as family and civil issues. Mindy oversees the entire operation—coordinating volunteers, managing client flow, and ensuring that every person who walks through the door feels welcome and supported. Her bilingual skills allow her to connect directly with Spanish-speaking clients, while her care for both clients and volunteers creates a positive, professional, and highly efficient environment. Thanks to Mindy’s steady leadership and top-notch style, this fast-paced clinic runs smoothly and remains a trusted resource for the community.

Bruce Boyden has championed the pro bono involvement of both lawyers and law students through his work on the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association’s Pro Bono Committee. As part of this effort, law students assist the committee by reviewing Section 1983 cases, filed by incarcerated individuals, that the court has designated as cases that would especially benefit from the assistance of an attorney. Students review pleadings and discovery and then draft memos summarizing the cases. This work helps committee members evaluate cases as they seek to secure pro bono representation for each such plaintiff.

We extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude to Karli Ring, Mindy Schroeder, and Professor Boyden, along with all members of the Marquette community who seek to “Be The Difference” through pro bono efforts.

Read about past awardees here (2022), here (2023), and here (2024).

Continue ReadingA Shout-Out to Marquette Members of the Annual AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll

PILS Fellows: A Summer of Service and Impact

Law School LogoPublic Interest Law Society (PILS) fellowships are more than summer jobs—they are immersive experiences that place students directly in the heart of legal practice and community need. PILS Fellows gain hands-on exposure to the challenges and responsibilities of lawyering, developing practical skills while also deepening their understanding of justice, equity, and advocacy. This experiential learning, even outside the curriculum, transforms classroom lessons into lived realities, shaping students into future lawyers who are both capable and committed to serving the public good.

The summer of 2025 was nothing short of extraordinary for Marquette Law School’s Public Interest Law Society Fellows. Nineteen students devoted more than 6,650 hours of service across 12 public interest organizations and agencies. At a time when the need for public interest lawyers has never been greater, our Fellows stepped into the justice gaps—delivering life-changing legal help while also becoming the kind of justice-driven advocates our communities urgently need.

Continue ReadingPILS Fellows: A Summer of Service and Impact
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