Work for a legal service provider in your area over the semester or during your breaks! From client intake to research and preparing documents, these opportunities are the perfect introduction to the legal field and working in the area of public interest law.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNTIES:
HURRICANE GUSTAV VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!
Disaster Recovery Outreach Events: The Southern University Law Center Clinic will provide direct assistance to the surrounding communities in making FEMA assistance applications and insurance claims. Students will assist hurricane victims register for FEMA online, make sure hurricane victims have all of the information they need to register, and hand out information to people from the community regarding their rights vis a vis FEMA, insurance companies, etc. The first of these events is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 8:00AM at the Southern University Law Center Library.
Catholic Charities Know Your Rights Project: The next "Know Your Rights" Presentation at South Louisiana Correctional Center in Basile, LA, is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27th, 2008. Law Student volunteers are needed to assist with client intake and to distribute print resources to detainees at the detention center. Foreign language ability is helpful, particularly Spanish, but is not necessary. This program is held monthly and the next program date is quickly approaching.
Thirst for Justice: This is a free walk-in opportunity for community members to speak with an attorney. Students are needed to perform intake every Wednesday and Thursday, from 3 to 5 pm at St. Vincent de Paul.
Ask-A-Lawyer: This is an opportunity for community members to meet with a lawyer for free legal advice or to be referred to a free legal service provider. Students complete intake documents and may sit in on the sessions with the attorney if the client permits. Upcoming dates: Sept. 17th, Sept. 20th, Oct. 2nd. Please contact Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps for additional upcoming dates and locations.
CASA: The next training session will be Sept. 9th - Sept. 25th. This is the last training of 2008. Volunteers attend a 45 minute orientation and complete 30 hours of training. CASA volunteers are trained to speak up for abused and neglected children and advocate for their timely placement into safe and permanent homes. CASA volunteers get to know a particular child or one group of siblings and find out what their needs are; speak to caseworkers, foster parents, and others in the child's life to gather information; and ultimately make recommendations to a judge about what is in the child's best interests.
AIDSLaw of Louisiana: Dates and times emailed regularly by staff attorney. For more information, please contact us.
INTERNSHIPS
Capital Area Legal Services Corporation: Interns are needed for Baton Rouge, Gonzales, Donaldsonville, and Houma locations. Volunteers perform intake, interview clients, and assist staff attorneys with their cases.
19th Judicial District Office of the Public Defender, Baton Rouge: The 19th Judicial District Public Defender's Office is looking for a number of interns for the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters. Please email us for more information.
Baton Rouge Bar Association:
Interns are needed at the Baton Rouge Bar Association to interview clients and manage files under the supervision of Baton Rouge Bar Association staff. This opportunity involves a great deal of client contact and exposure to the legal needs of the Baton Rouge community.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge: The Immigration Staff Attorney of this organizations needs one student intern this year to assist him with his caseload of immigration, family, and domestic violence cases. Foreign language ability is helpful, particularly Spanish, but is not necessary. Please email us for more information.
Orleans Public Defenders (OPD) Law Student Opportunities, New Orleans: OPD offers part-time semester clerkships in the fall and spring of each year. Students must commit to clerk at least 10 hours per week. Other opportunities include, but are not limited to, summer law clerk positions and opportunities during winter and spring break for law students to volunteer in various capacities such as legal research, first appearances and in other office capacities. Law students can also volunteer by interviewing defendants at first appearances on the weekends.
Last update: September 11, 2008
