Athens’ struggling artists who cannot afford legal services can get them for free through the School of Law’s Public Interest Practicum and its partnership with Nuçi’s Space, a resource center for musicians.

But only if they take the time to stop and ask.

Nuçi’s Space, a charity dedicated to helping musicians, has teamed with local organizations to offer affordable services to low-income bands and artists which would not be able to afford the help otherwise. 

And the partnership allows the students to set up and advertise free legal services there.

This mission was exactly why the director of the practicum, Alexander Scherr, believed the project with Nuçi’s Space would fit well into the class, which aims to give students experience in working with lower-income Athenians.

Each semester, the students of the practicum choose a project — some of which involve volunteering at soup kitchens and counseling the individuals who show up.  

However, about four years ago, two students interested in intellectual property and helping musicians suggested the project with Nuçi’s Space to Scherr.  

“The reason I thought it would be a good project is because we assume particularly young artists, who have not established themselves, will not be making a lot of money,” Scherr said. 

 Financial struggles can often lead to complications that have legal issues associated with them, Scherr explained. 

That’s where the law school students come in.

  “They come up here about once a week when it is busy to catch people walking through,” said Will Kiser, staff member at Nuçi’s Space.   

He explained that the students’ work is overseen by a licensed lawyer, but the students are the ones doing the research and interacting with the clients. 

“It changes every semester with new students but it is the same sort of program,” Kiser said.

Legal advice a musician might need could include how to copyright something and understanding one’s rights if a club owner guarantees a certain amount for a gig and does not pay them, Kiser said.

This semester, the two students from the practicum assigned to the project are Matthew Beukema and Myada El-Sawi, although neither of them have had the chance to advise yet.

“The idea was to have a sign that people would see as they were walking through which would make them stop to ask questions. Then I could do a client intake, but unfortunately I haven’t had any clients yet,” El-Sawi said. “I think the problem is that the artists are coming in and out so quickly.”

The advice offered through this project not limited to those dealing with music-related issues. 

“We are willing to help them with a range of legal issues” El-Sawi said.  

However, the students in the practicum are not permitted to handle criminal cases. 

“Those will be referred to the public defender,” Scherr said.

Anybody who cannot afford legal services can call the public interest practicum office for an initial screening to see if the issue can be handled by the practicum. 

“I try to make the assessment early on, and if we have to say no to someone, we are careful to identify other places where they can get help,” Scherr said.

For More Info

Contact Nuçi’s Space Public Interest Practicum Office at (706) 542-5213 or Nuçi’s Space at (706) 227-1515