EJW: The Summer Corps

The Equal Justice Works Summer Corps program engages law students around the country who are expanding the delivery of legal services to those who need it most. Summer Corps is an AmeriCorps-funded program that in 2008 will provide 350 law students with the opportunity to earn a $1,000 education award voucher for dedicating their summer to a qualifying legal project at a nonprofit public interest organization. [This $1,000 award is in addition to any work-study or Touro Public Interest Law Fellowship funds you might receive.] Summer Corps members provide critically needed legal assistance in low-income and underserved communities in the United States on a broad range of issue areas.

In 2006, in response to the devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Equal Justice Works dedicated 65 Summer Corps slots to form the Katrina Summer Corps. Katrina Summer Corps members dedicated their summer to assist hurricane survivors and evacuees in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In 2007, 34 Katrina Summer Corps members provided services to more than 1,200 survivors of the hurricanes. Due to our long-standing commitment to legal justice in the region, Equal Justice Works continues to encourage students to develop projects that focus on needs related to the Gulf Coast disasters of 2005.

As a Summer Corps member, you will:

Serve a minimum of 300 hours at a nonprofit public interest organization of your choosing;

Earn a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award voucher upon completion of 300 hours of service that can be used to pay current educational expenses or qualified student loans;

Gain first-hand experience and legal skills in areas such as client intake, representation and legal research and writing; and

Become an official member of AmeriCorps, one of the largest national service networks in U.S. history.

Summer Corps Timeline

March 19, 2008 2008 Summer Corps application will be available on the Equal Justice Works website.

April 2, 2008 Application Deadline - 5:00 p.m. EDT.

April 18, 2008 Notification of status—accepted, rejected or waitlisted—will be received by all applicants.

May 2008 2008 Summer Corps members must complete all enrollment paperwork and submit to Equal Justice Works by the first day of their service or May 23 (whichever date is earlier).

May – June 2008 Summer Corps members begin their service.

July – September 2008 Summer Corps members complete their 300 hours of service by Sept. 1 and submit exit paperwork to Equal Justice Works within 14 days of completion.

October - November 2008 Summer Corps members receive a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award voucher in the mail.

Questions?

If you have questions about the Summer Corps program, email summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org.