6/24/09: Positions are still being posted for the 2009-2010 service year. Click on the organizations on the right for more information.

The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps program is one of the most productive and highly regarded national service programs in the nation. This AmeriCorps program makes a lasting impact on the communities it serves by facilitating pro bono opportunities and expanding the legal resources in low-income and underserved communities.

Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps (founded in 2003 as the Pro Bono Legal Corps) works to improve access to justice by increasing the availability of pro bono legal services nationwide to low-income clients. Supported by an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the program is a postgraduate opportunity to address gaps in legal services through pro bono management and direct legal services.

During their 11-month fellowships, each Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow recruits 100 volunteer law students and lawyers—and the amount of taxpayer dollars per client served is only $40. Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellows work to narrow the justice gap in many areas, including health care, public benefits, affordable housing, lost wages, protection orders and education. For example:

Marisol Haro (Public Counsel) finalizes adoptions for children in the Los Angeles County foster care system. Without a legal services or volunteer attorney, the average cost for one public agency adoption is more than $10,000. Last year, Marisol and 161 volunteers worked on 521 adoption cases, finalizing 352 matters.

Joseph Hardgrave (Montana Legal Services Association) works on the Indian Wills Project. Joe travels across Montana to reservations to help low-income Native Americans maintain tribal lands through proper estate planning. Without his assistance, surviving family members could lose the rights to their tribal lands.

During the 2007-2008 term of service, the 35 Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellows:

• Represented 17,200 clients on pressing legal matters;
• Facilitated 737 legal clinics which served 10,783 people and provided important legal experience to hundreds of law students;
• Partnered with 400 organizations to build community infrastructure;
• Engaged 1,644 pro bono lawyers (both private firm and corporate counsel offices) in public interest work; and
• Recruited 2,321 law students to assist in providing legal services to low-income communities and make the connection between the law and public service