Pro Bono Opportunity
May 31, 2012
TASSC – http://tassc.org/blog/, is located within walking distance of the law school at 4121 Harewood Road, NE; it is the only U.S. organization founded by survivors of torture for survivors, to oppose torture and to empower a community of survivors. Most TASSC members arrive in the U.S. seeking political asylum based on the torture and persecution they experienced in the home countries they fled. TASSC provides pro bono legal representation.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to engage in policy advocacy, but their primary focus will be on asylum representation. Students will take lead responsibility, under the supervision of TASSC pro bono attorneys, for initial screening of cases and for developing the case once members are accepted for asylum representation, from drafting documents and gathering evidence to preparing the client for interviews and hearings at Immigration Court (Arlington, Baltimore) and the DHS Asylum Office (Arlington). To the extent possible, students will be authorized to act as counsel in those venues in the presence of the attorney of record.
Requirements
Students must work at TASSC for the bulk of their hours. They will be given a desk, a computer and telephone access; as well as orientation and ongoing guidance at least once a week, including overviews of substantive legal principles and processes.
To apply, send a cover email and resume to Steve France, Esq., Asylum Coordinator (steve@tassc.org) and cc Demissie Abebe, Executive Director (demissie@tassc.org) by June 8. TASSC is likely to ask for a writing sample and will interview applicants before accepting them into the program.
Seeking Volunteers for CAIR
September 20, 2011
The Capital Area Immigrant’s Rights (CAIR) Coalition conducts regular visits to jails in Virginia to meet noncitizens detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and collect information to help them with their cases. A small number of volunteers accompany CAIR staff on these jail visits. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about immigration issues and gain experience working with immigrant and detainee populations.
Volunteers must attend a 1.5-hour training and must commit to attending at least 1 jail visit per semester, if needed. Volunteers will not sign up for visits at the training but rather be contacted shortly thereafter.
A jail visit training will be conducted this Friday, September 23rd, from 2-3:30pm, at the CAIR Coalition office, located at 1612 K St NW, Suite 204.
If you’re interested, please sign up and Jen will put you in touch with the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure there is space available.
Pro Bono Opportunity
October 6, 2010
Paul Kurth, Director of the CCLS Consumer Project, is conducting a series of consumer financial protection “know-your-rights” workshops in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC in November. He is looking for about 10 students for each workshop Thursday evening the 11th and Thursday evening the 18th to help with the presentations and then to meet with participants one-on-one afterwards to provide basic information about their rights, how to protect themselves, etc. If you’d like to volunteer there is a mandatory 1-hour training session you must attend on Monday, October 25 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. A sign-up sheet has been posted on the SPIL TWEN page (please disregard the Nov. 4 slot as there will be no workshop that day).
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to earn SPIL hours, as well as Pro Bono Challenge hours. While there are only 20 spots available for the November workshops, Mr. Kurth is planning more workshops in January, which may be more possible for 1Ls.
Legal Volunteers – Lawyer’s Cmt. for Civil Rights Under Law
August 26, 2010
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – www.lawyerscommittee.org seeks legal volunteers (attorneys, paralegals, and law students) for Early Voting and Primary Day, September 14, 2010 in Washington, DC. The non-partisan voter protection coalition led by the Lawyers’ Committee has two components – the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline, and mobile legal volunteers – which help ensure that voters cast a meaningful ballot. Moreover, the data collected through both teams of volunteers are used to enact reform at the local and national levels. See the flyer for more information.
Internships – Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
August 3, 2010
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is looking for legal interns to assist us in providing pro bono legal representation to unaccompanied children within the immigration system. The positions will be unpaid, but we are happy to assist you with externship credit, work study, or securing funding from external sources. For more information about KIND, please consult the flyer and visit www.supportkind.org.
Legal interns will assist us in the following:
- Interpreting –assisting at intake interviews with clients, as well as interpreting telephone calls and translating documents.
- Interviewing – conducting follow-up interviews and phone calls with clients, adult sponsors, and other agencies.
- Information-Gathering – contacting adult sponsors, social workers, government agencies, and relatives or other agencies from the child’s home country to prepare case files.
- Coordinating Law Firms & Pro Bono Volunteer Attorneys – keeping track of case status with pro bono attorneys, referring cases to pro bono attorneys, technical assistance, and assisting with trainings.
- Conducting Rights Presentations – helping to create and conduct rights presentations to children when they first enter the immigration system, as well as legal orientation programs for adult sponsors to know their rights and responsibilities when sponsoring a detained child immigrant.
- Administrative Tasks – including data reporting and statistics on our clients and volunteers, and other tasks as needed.How to Apply
If interested, please submit the following via email to plee@supportkind.org:
1) Application Form (attached)
2) Résumé
3) 2 References
Please submit all applications as soon as possible. KIND will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until August 31, 2010. Early application preferred. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email plee@supportkind.org or call (202) 682-7166.
Loan Repayment Prog. for Civil Legal Aid Attorneys
June 14, 2010
New Loan Repayment Program for Civil Legal Aid Attorneys
Apply by August 16 to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s new Civil Legal Assistance Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program.
Successful applicants will receive $6,000 in loan repayment assistance in exchange for a three-year service commitment and may receive a lifetime maximum of $40,000 if the program continues to be funded by Congress. Funding is available on a first-come first-served basis to eligible, full-time civil legal aid attorneys with federal student loan debt.
Equal Justice Works notes in a recent blog entry that participants in the new program cannot receive benefits from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for the same time period and therefore should “carefully consider” whether to apply for the new program.
The draft application is available on the website of Equal Justice Works, which has dedicated a section of its site to information about the new program. Equal Justice Works will host a webinar on June 17 for those seeking additional information.
Pro bono opportunities – DC Off. of Admin. Hearings
May 21, 2010
If you have ever wondered what law clerks do, the DC Office of Administrative Hearings has three terrific pro bono opportunities that will help you find out. You must have completed a course in civil procedure, but no other experience is necessary. Certificates of participation will be given to students who assist on all three projects.
Columbus Community Legal Services (“CCLS”) will be assisting administrative law judges in the DC Office of Administrative Hearings (“OAH”) on three days this summer – June 17, July 8, and a date TBA – from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We are looking for up to 20 students to participate.
Thursday June 17, 2010. Refine your knowledge of civil procedure by helping the DC Office of Administrative Hearings prepare dismissals for failure of service in Department of Public Works cases. Students working in teams of two will review cases for evidence of service of process and then complete a template. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and students will receive training on this process.
Wednesday July 8, 2010. On this date, students will perform case reviews to determine if a default judgment should be entered and then will calculate fines in Department of Transportation cases. Again, breakfast, lunch and training will be provided.
Summer 2010. TBA. Students will assist in drafting court orders at the DC Office of Administrative Hearings. You’ll attend hearings, take notes, and draft findings of fact in Department of Public Works cases. You’ll spend 1 to 2 hours taking notes and up to 6 hours drafting and revising findings of fact. You’re welcome to participate in one hearing or in multiple hearings, as your schedule allows. However, you must be able to turn around your findings of fact within 24 hours.
Why You Should Help: This is a great opportunity to prepare court orders, speak with administrative law judges, and gain a better understanding of civil procedure issues in the context of local administrative proceedings. You will also be performing an invaluable pro bono service for members of our community. Please consider giving of your time!
If you interested in volunteering or have questions about the project, please contact Professor Faith Mullen at mullen@law.edu or 202-319-6613.
Volunteer – Mississippi Ctr. for Justice
December 11, 2009
The Mississippi Center for Justice invites applications from law students to take part during the summer in our work advancing racial and economic justice in Mississippi. Although they cannot provide a stipend, they will work with students to meet grant application deadlines at their schools or with other funders.
Students should submit a résumé with current contact information, including an e-mail address, and a cover letter that outlines your interest in the Mississippi Center for Justice and their work, and identifies what kind of experiences and policy areas draw you to our organization. Students should also include three references.
If you are applying for a summer grant from an external source, please make any deadlines you must meet clear in the opening paragraph. Please also indicate whether you have a preference for working out of their Jackson or Biloxi office, or if you are open to placement in either office.
More information is available at www.mscenterforjustice.org. Applications must be postmarked AND received via e-mail by January 4, 2010. Send resume, cover letter and references to:
Mississippi Center for Justice
Summer Internships
P.O. Box 1023
Jackson, Mississippi 39215-1023
Phone: (601)352-2269. Or, send via e-mail to: wbarkley@mscenterforjustice.org
Volunteer legal experience – ABA Fund for Justice & Education
December 11, 2009
The newly created ABA Fund for Justice and Education (FJE) Project Fellows Program seeks to provide new lawyers unable to find employment with meaningful volunteer legal experience by giving them an opportunity to work on FJE public service projects. For more information on the program as well as the on-line application form, visit http://www.abanet.org/abanet/fje/fellows/fjeprojectfellows.cfm.
