JusticeCorps is dedicated to increasing access within California’s legal system by offering support to the thousands of individuals representing themselves in civil cases each year. We train undergraduates and recent graduates to provide direct service and neutral assistance (not legal advice) to self-represented litigants in one of the many court-based self-help centers across the state. JusticeCorps members serve under the supervision of attorneys to offer essential support for those navigating the court system on their own, by providing one-on-one support and assisting with workshops. JusticeCorps members empower litigants to understand their options, to have their voices heard, and to confidently move forward with their legal matter.
Image
JUSTICECORPS MEMBERS ON THEIR SERVICE EXPERIENCE...
"You have so much that you can take away from this internship, connections, knowledge, and experience; this isn't like your normal internship, it stands out, you get onsite experience with court documents and get to help others who need it."
"I never in a million years thought I would be able to read court documents and understand what's going on. However, now I have that skill which isn't a common one and definitely stands out."
What You’ll Do in JusticeCorps
- Work directly with litigants: All JusticeCorps members receive training in a variety of legal areas so they can offer essential support to those representing themselves by helping litigants complete legal forms, assisting with community legal education workshops, providing referrals, and listening to people’s stories.
- Learn from attorneys: JusticeCorps members serve in courts around California and work under the guidance of self-help center attorneys to support the public. Attorneys provide supervision, mentorship, and feedback. At the end of every service shift, attorneys run a case review with JusticeCorps members to review the details of the day’s cases so they can go over the experience with the litigants served that day.
- Develop Professional Skills: JusticeCorps offers a unique experience to learn about the law from within a courthouse. In addition to gaining deep legal training and customer service skills, workshops and experiences are curated so JusticeCorps members can grow their professional skills outside of the self-help centers. These include visits to law schools, resume workshops, self-care and financial literacy sessions, and others!
- Promote access to justice: At the center of JusticeCorps is providing greater access to navigating California’s court and legal systems. By offering these direct services to members of the public, JusticeCorps helps thousands of people gain greater understanding of their cases and ability to navigate the legal system with more certainty.
- Participate in National Service: JusticeCorps members are AmeriCorps members. JusticeCorps is a program of the California Courts, administered by CaliforniaVolunteers and sponsored by AmeriCorps, a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. As a JusticeCorps member you’ll join a cohort of nearly 300 active members and 5,000+ alumni dedicated to increasing access to justice throughout California.
JusticeCorps Graduate Fellows (1,700-hr AmeriCorps Members)
JusticeCorps Graduate Fellows commit to a Full-Time AmeriCorps term—1,700 hours served over 12 months, 5 days a week—and receive a number of benefits in exchange. Fellows may lead legal education workshops for the public and all Fellows provide direct one-on-one service to litigants seeking to represent themselves in court. In addition to providing self-represented litigants with information about procedures, options, and referrals to appropriate services, Fellows take a leadership role, and are mentors for the Legal Access Interns with whom they serve. JusticeCorps Fellows must be college graduates but do not have to be affiliated with a JusticeCorps partner campus.
Minimum Eligibility: In addition to meeting AmeriCorps eligibility requirements, Fellowship applicants must have received an undergraduate degree by August (typically second week) prior to the start of their service. Fellows are not required to be affiliated with a JusticeCorps partner campus.
Applications for the fellowship(s) open by (approximately) mid-February and vary by location.
Learn More: https://courts.ca.gov/programs-initiatives/justicecorps