1.) What will I be doing?

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As a member - a full time student who serves 8 hours a week with JusticeCorps - you will be helping litigants to navigate the justice system. You'll be assigned to one of our partner sites in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Clara or San Mateo and provide direct (in-person or remote) assistance to self-represented litigants (under the supervision of an attorney or legal professional). You may assist people with completing their legal forms, provide procedural legal information, provide language assistance to LEP litigants, assist in facilitating workshops, and make referrals to local legal aid organizations. The types of family law and civil legal matters you will assist with can vary depending on your placement site but may include divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, restraining orders, small claims, unlawful detainers (evictions), and guardianships. 

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2.) Is this internship paid?

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The part-time student member position is not paid. There is, however, a $1,459.26 AmeriCorps education award presented to you at the completion of your term of service. Full-time fellows receive awards totaling $10,000* as well as a living stipend of $33,000 for the year.

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3.) Do I need to have prior legal experience or legal education?

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You don't need to have any legal experience! While it is appreciated, you do not need to have prior law experience for a JusticeCorps position. We also consider all majors (you do not need to have a pre-law background to apply). We provide over forty hours of intensive legal training as well as daily supervision and mentorship by attorneys and legal professionals to help you prepare for your year of service.

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4.) What is the educational award?

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​The educational award is a post-service benefit given to members after completing their required hours. Part-time members who complete 300 hours receive a $1,459.26 education award and full-time members (fellows) who complete 1700 hours receive awards totaling $10,000*. These awards can be applied to existing student loans, paid directly to your university for tuition, or saved for up to 7 years for future education.

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5.) Can I earn class credits for participation in JusticeCorps?

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​Some of our partner universities allow students to receive credits toward graduation for their participation in JusticeCorps. Check with your department or academic advisor to see if there is an internship field study class you could enroll in.  We are happy to sign any documents you may need to ensure that you receive credit.

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*Upon successful completion of their service, AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans. In addition to receiving the federal Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, full-time members, who complete a minimum of 1700 service hours will receive a California For All Education Award for a combined total value of $10,000. Both educational awards are considered taxable income. CFA Award is contingent upon final budget appropriation by the state of California.

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6.) What does the application process look like?

 

You can preview a more detailed timeline of our application process here.

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7.) I've been accepted into the program as a student member. What are the next steps?

 

Members are required to complete a number of program requirements prior to Orientation, including 3 background checks. You can expect to receive communication from program staff detailing each step. Please review the "Onboarding" checklist for a list of deadlines.