Become a Fellow

Disaster Resilience Program

Disasters devastate lower-income communities, creating new poverty and further entrenching inequality. In the wake of any disaster, families often need the assistance of a lawyer to overcome barriers to recovery.

As the frequency and severity of disasters continues to rise, lawyers play a critical role in improving preparedness by working with community members and leaders to avoid or mitigate disaster-related legal challenges.

The unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 has heightened the level of uncertainty and disparity for marginalized communities at the same time as it has restricted access to essential social services.

The Disaster Resilience Program mobilizes Fellows and law students to provide free civil legal aid in disaster prone areas to ensure vital legal services are accessible, comprehensive, and responsive to the unique needs of individuals, families, and communities so lives can be stabilized and communities rebuilt to be more resilient.

Fellows are hosted at legal services organizations, where they engage in outreach and education, help provide direct legal services to disaster survivors, and foster important relationships within the community.

In addition to the training and mentorship Fellows receive from their host organization, the Disaster Resilience Program provides a range of trainings and technical assistance throughout the Fellowship term. These include, but are not limited to:

Substantive and skills-based webinars throughout the Fellowship
Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training (attended by all Equal Justice Works Fellows)
Annual Disaster Law Training
Final Learning Event
Potential for emergency travel to assist other legal aid organizations in the immediate aftermath of a disaster
Equal Justice Works in-house disaster legal expert to provide and connect Fellows to specialized trainings, resources, and national partners related to disaster legal assistance

The Disaster Resilience Program is currently recruiting for one (1) Fellow in Louisiana. Please see more below.

The Disaster Resilience Program is currently funded by the Bigglesworth Family Foundation, California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the California Wildfires Recovery, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and individual contributions.

Contact [email protected] to learn more.

Meet Our Fellows

Read about the DRP Fellows who are helping individuals and families prepare for and respond to the unique challenges arising from all kinds of disasters.