To honor President Barack Obama’s call for a national day of service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Pepperdine School of Law school will host five clinics with the Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row. The purpose of the clinics which will be held throughout the year is to help those in need with legal advice and law services. Current law students and local lawyers as well as Seaver students interested in pursuing a career in law are invited to volunteer. The clinic offers diverse types of legal assistance including issues related to housing food stamps medical needs as well as acquainting individuals with general legal services. Doug Kmiec professor of constitutional law and the Caruso Family Chair along with law professor and former Union Rescue volunteer Brittany Otey developed the idea for the clinics because the Union Rescue Mission was overbooked with volunteers for the holiday Monday. They opted for operating the clinics on multiple days throughout the semester.It is an extended celebration of the spirit of the holiday. “The mission has an influx of people to do service there Otey said. We are seeing if we can reach more people this way.”Pepperdine has operated a legal clinic at Union Rescue Mission for 10 years but Kmiec and Otey now aim to expand their clinics to see 300 to 500 individuals per session and increase the long-term support of the clinic. “It was our thinking it would be a good time to expand the program Kmiec said. It would help us to participate with this unique national event.”Otey teaches two courses that require her students to work in the clinic once a week. These five days hosted by Pepperdine will allow more students alumni and lawyers to serve the community. It’s a win-win Otey said. You get to help the community and students get firsthand experience.”Otey is working to spearhead these service days. The students and professors will do their best to “accommodate any individual who walks through the door according to Kmiec. The first of these clinics will be held on Monday, Feb. 17. This day will be focused on expungement, a lawsuit that clears a criminal’s name. Many people who seek help from the Union Rescue Mission have crimes on their records. These prevent them from finding employment and keep them in a cycle of poverty, clinic workers say. By wiping the crimes off their record, these individuals can find work more easily. The next date will be in late March and is slated to cover child support.These programs are flexible. More volunteers will lead to better, more developed and more specialized programs, according to Kmiec. Pepperdine School of Law’s participation in the National Day of Service is unique across the country. According to Kmiec, who was an advisor to Obama’s presidential campaign, Obama’s senior advisors have noted that Pepperdine is the only law school they are aware of which is participating in this national event.Kmiec said this statement should not be a source of pride but of assurance that the university is fulfilling its mission to cultivate students who are firmly rooted in service, purpose and leadership. Kmiec also said service has come into the limelight of American politics with the election of Obama, and that it is a firm foundation of not only the school and country, but Christian faith. Law students or local lawyers should contact Professor Otey for more information. Seaver students who have an interest in law are welcome to volunteer by contacting the Union Rescue Mission at (213) 347-6300, extension 4413.