The University of Richmond has announced plans for the "University of Richmond Downtown," a satellite campus of over 4,500 square feet in the heart of the city of Richmond. The facility, which will serve as a hub of community-based service, learning, research and collaboration with non-profit and government partners, will open this fall.

UR Downtown will address pressing community needs through a combination of pro bono legal services provided by law students and attorneys and community-based learning, service and research by undergraduates and faculty. Said President Edward L. Ayers: "Having a space downtown allows the whole university to offer programs and build on our connections with alumni and other local citizens and leaders.”

The operation will be located in a historic building formerly known as Franklin Federal Savings & Loan, across from the new federal courthouse. The renovation will be certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as a green building with minimal environmental impact.

The Richmond Families Initiative builds partnerships with agencies working to empower families in the city. Faculty members and their undergraduate students will conduct research and analyze programs run by local agencies to support metro area families.

The Harry L. Carrico Center for Pro Bono Service pairs local attorneys and UR law students to provide legal help to clients. The  UR center will provide legal services to low-income clients who are victims of domestic violence seeking protective orders or those seeking a no-fault divorce.

The Family Law Clinic is a multidisciplinary project of the Law School's National Center for Family Law and Virginia Commonwealth University. Up to ten law students per year will represent clients. Graduate students in social work and psychology from VCU will work alongside the UR students and faculty to ensure that clients gain access to psychological care, counseling and social work services.  More.