ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Equal Justice Works Fellow Reilly Morse testifies on Capitol Hill.
- Now accepting applications for the National Advisory Committee
- Equal Justice Works/West opens in San Francisco; Diane Chin named Director of West Coast office
Summer Corps - FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process and Eligibility
- What steps do I need to take before completing a Summer Corps application?
- What information will I be asked to provide in the Summer Corps application?
- Are there any restrictions on the type of activities in which a Summer Corps member can engage?
- Am I eligible if I have participated in an AmeriCorps program before?
- Do projects with government agencies qualify for the Summer Corps?
- Do I qualify for the program if I work at a state public defender office?
- Can I divide the 300 hours of service between host organizations?
- Am I eligible if I am receiving school credit for my project?
- Can I still apply to the program if I have another source of summer funding?
- Can I still apply to the program if I don't have law school loans or other educational debt?
- When will I know for sure if I've been accepted into the program?
- How can I increase my chances of getting accepted into the program?
- What kind of paperwork has to be completed in order to enroll in the program?
Program Requirements
- Do I have to keep a record of the hours that I work over the summer?
- What else do I need to document during my term of service?
- What is the latest I can begin my service and still participate in the program?
- Can I still take a vacation over the summer and participate in the program?
- What kind of paperwork must be submitted in order to successfully complete the program and get my AmeriCorps education award?
AmeriCorps Education Award
- What is AmeriCorps?
- How long will it take to get my AmeriCorps education award voucher after I complete my service?
- How can I use the $1,000 AmeriCorps education award?
- What are qualified student loans?
- What are current educational expenses?
- How can I determine if my law school is a qualified school?
- How many years do I have to use the AmeriCorps education award?
- Where does the AmeriCorps education award come from?
Application Process and Eligibility
Q: What steps do I need to take before completing a Summer Corps application?
A: There are three steps you must take before completing an application:
- Make Sure You are Eligible to Apply.
Member eligibility information - Secure your project with a Qualifying Organization.
To apply for Summer Corps you must first obtain a placement at a qualifying nonprofit organization. Equal Justice Works will not find a placement for you.
Host organization eligibility information - Design a Qualifying Project.
Summer Corps supports projects in which students provide primarily direct legal services to low-income and underserved individuals. Community outreach and education components are also encouraged. Projects where students are doing pure policy work DO NOT QUALIFY for Summer Corps.
Project eligibility information
Q: What information will I be asked to provide in the Summer Corps application?
A: You will be required to submit the following information as part of your application:
- Your name and contact information;
- Your law school and graduation year;
- Your host organization's name, address and phone number;
- Your supervisor's name and email address;
- The dates you anticipate starting and completing your project;
- The general issue area of your project (civil rights, domestic violence, homelessness, workers' rights);
- A description of the type of services you will provide throughout the course of your project (intake, research and writing, courtroom advocacy);
- A description of the client population you will serve; and
- A description of the supervision you will receive during your project.
Q: Are there any restrictions on the type of activities in which a Summer Corps member can engage?
A: According to current AmeriCorps regulations and provisions, Summer Corps members are prohibited from engaging in any activity that is illegal under local, state or federal law or engaging in any activity that poses a significant safety risk to others or adversely affects the host site or the Summer Corps program. AmeriCorps has a list of prohibited activities that members may not engage in during their service hours, which includes proselytizing and lobbying.
Q: Am I eligible if I have participated in an AmeriCorps program before?
A: Maybe. AmeriCorps places limits on the number of terms an individual can serve and restricts individuals to two AmeriCorps education awards in a lifetime. If you have served as an AmeriCorps member before, email summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org to verify your eligibility before applying.
Q: Do projects with government agencies qualify for the Summer Corps?
A: No. The Summer Corps program's mission is to expand critical legal services in underserved and low-income communities. Though internships at government agencies serve the public interest, they do not squarely fit that mission. Furthermore, they are not aligned with the rest of Equal Justice Works' programs which emphasize the delivery of civil legal services to those who would not otherwise have access to services.
Q: Do I qualify for the program if I will work at a state public defender office?
A: No. Government public defender work does not qualify for the Summer Corps program. Government agencies are not eligible host organizations.
Q: Can I divide the 300 hours of service between two host organizations?
A: No. We require that you complete all 300 hours of service at one organization. An exception may be made if you are working on a project that is a collaboration between two organizations, but please contact us at summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org to verify your eligibility before applying for the program.
Q: Am I eligible if I am receiving school credit for my project?
A: No. If you are participating in an externship or other credit-granting program, you are not eligible for Summer Corps.
Q: Can I still apply to the program if I have another source of summer funding?
A: Yes. If you receive funding through work study, a grant from your law school or another source, you are still eligible to participate in the Summer Corps program. You may not, however, be paid as a staff member by the host organization.
Q: Can I still apply to the program if I don't have law school loans or other educational debt?
A: While there is no requirement that you demonstrate financial need in order to participate in the program, Summer Corps is intended for those who can benefit most from the financial assistance provided by the education award. That said, members can use the AmeriCorps education award to pay for future educational expenses, including law school tuition, even if they don't have current debt.
Q: When will I know for sure if I've been accepted into the program?
A: After the application period closes on April 2 and before April 18, all applicants will be notified of their status as accepted, rejected or waitlisted.
Q: How can I increase my chances of getting accepted into the program?
A: Since the most important factor in the selection process is the first-come, first-served component, you can maximize your chances of being accepted by completing your application as soon as possible after the application becomes available on our website on March 19, 2008 . You should also make sure that you have reviewed the Summer Corps eligibility criteria and that your project qualifies for the program. Finally, make sure you submit a complete application.
Q: What kind of paperwork has to be completed in order to enroll in the program?
A: Once you have been selected as a Summer Corps member, you must complete and submit the following to Equal Justice Works by the first day of your project or May 23 (whichever date is earlier): a signed enrollment form; proof of AmeriCorps eligibility, such as a copy of your unexpired U.S. passport, birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or Lawful Permanent Resident Card; a signed Notification Regarding Federal Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; and a Service Contract signed by you and your supervisor or other representative of your host organization. These documents will be available for download on the Equal Justice Works website.
Q: Do I have to keep a record of the hours that I serve over the summer?
A: Yes, you will be required to keep complete and accurate records of time served on a daily basis. You must do this by using the weekly time logs that will be provided to you by Equal Justice Works. Your complete time log showing that you served at least 300 hours must be signed by both you and your supervisor and submitted to Equal Justice Works at the end of your project in order for you to receive your AmeriCorps education award voucher.
Q: What else do I need to document during my term of service?
A: At the end of the summer you will be required to submit a final report that will ask for information on the number of clients you served, the number of educational materials you worked on and other information regarding your accomplishments. Equal Justice Works will provide you with templates that you can use to keep track of this data so that you can more easily complete this required final report.
Q: What is the latest I can begin my service and still participate in the program?
A: While there is no hard deadline, we strongly advise members to begin their projects no later than June 15. Members who start later in the summer face major challenges completing the required 300 hours of service by the Sept. 1 completion deadline.
Q: Can I still take a vacation over the summer and participate in the program?
A: Members are absolutely allowed to take a vacation at any time during their term of service. That said, you should keep in mind that you are only eligible to receive the education award if you can document that you have served the requisite 300 hours by Sept. 1, 2008.
Q: What kind of paperwork must be submitted in order to successfully complete the program and get my AmeriCorps education award?
A: Within two weeks of completing your project, you must submit a signed exit form, a time log documenting that you served at least 300 hours over the summer (signed by both you and your supervisor) and an online final report in order to successfully exit the program. Once we receive your exit information, we will notify the National Service Trust that you have completed the program and they will mail you a $1,000 education award voucher.
Application Process and Eligibility
A: AmeriCorps is a national service network that engages more than 70,000 Americans in service each year. AmeriCorps programs include Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). Equal Justice Works has partnered with AmeriCorps to create the Summer Corps program, giving law students the opportunity to spend their summer gaining skills and experience while serving communities in critical need of legal services. For more information on the AmeriCorps national service network, visit www.americorps.gov.
Q: How long will it take to get my AmeriCorps education award voucher after I complete my service?
A: Generally, the National Service Trust will mail your AmeriCorps education award voucher to you within four to six weeks of receiving notice from Equal Justice Works that you have successfully completed the program.
Due to this timeline, Summer Corps members are advised not to plan to apply their AmeriCorps education award toward the 2008 fall semester. Since you may receive your voucher as late as November, the earliest you will be able to use it for tuition is the 2009 spring semester.
Q: How can I use the $1,000 AmeriCorps education award?
A: You can use your education award to:
- Repay qualified student loans;
- Pay current educational expenses at a qualified school; and/or
- Pay current educational expenses while participating in an approved school-to-work program.
Q: What are qualified student loans?
A: The national service legislation defines "qualified student loan" as a loan backed by the federal government under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (except PLUS Loans to parents of students), or under Titles VII or VIII of the Public Health Service Act. You may also use your AmeriCorps education award to repay a student loan made by a state agency, including state institutions of higher education.
AmeriCorps education awards cannot be used to repay any other type of loan, even if the loan was obtained for educational purposes. You can use your education award to repay defaulted student loans as long as the loans meet the definition of "qualified student loan." Some of the most common qualified student loans are:
- Stafford loans
- Perkins loans
- Federal direct loans
- Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS)
- Federal Consolidated Loans
Q: What are current educational expenses?
A: "Current educational expenses," as authorized under 42 U.S.C. § 12604(c), include:
- The "cost of attendance" for a degree or certificate-granting program of study at a qualified school; and
- Education expenses for nondegree courses offered by qualified schools, such as continuing education courses.
Q: How can I determine if my law school is a qualified school?
A: Your school is qualified if it is a Title IV institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1001). This includes most colleges and universities. All of the 2007-2008 Equal Justice Works member law schools are qualified schools.
To determine if your school is an eligible institution, ask your financial aid administrator, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s listing of Title IV schools at www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/FSLookupServlet, or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243.
Q: How many years do I have to use the AmeriCorps education award?
A: You have seven years to use the AmeriCorps education award from the date of completion of your term of service. You can divide your award and use portions of it at different times as long as it is for authorized expenditures within the specified time period. You could, for example, apply a portion of it to existing qualified student loans and save the remainder to pay for additional years of law school tuition.
Q: Where does the AmeriCorps education award come from?
A: All AmeriCorps education awards are administered by the National Service Trust at the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, D.C.
Questions?
If you have additional questions about the AmeriCorps education award, call the National Service Trust at (888) 507-5962 or visit the education award section of the AmeriCorps website at www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/benefits_ed_award.asp.
If you have questions about the Summer Corps program, send an email to summercorps@equaljusticeworks.org.