Law Students

Rural Summer Legal Corps

Rural communities in the U.S. and its territories face a shortage of talented lawyers, with a large population of the country being forced to travel hundreds of miles to find legal assistance. Participate in Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC) and help address the access-to-justice crisis for people living in rural areas.

Each summer, Equal Justice Works partners with the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to support 35 dedicated law students who want to serve rural communities, as part of the Rural Summer Legal Corps. Student Fellows spend eight to ten weeks at LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations developing valuable skills and gaining hands-on experience by:

providing direct legal services such as client and witness interviews, legal research, and writing
engaging in community outreach and education including fact sheet distribution, strategic partnership development, and presentations
building capacity at their host organization through resource development and training sessions

Student Fellows tackle a number of results-driven community projects including responding to disaster-related legal issues; addressing affordable housing and evictions; and providing legal aid to victims of domestic violence.

The application for the 2021 Rural Summer Legal Corps is available here. Applications for the program are due at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 8, 2021.

How to Apply

Before submitting your application, view the 2021 host site projects, and be prepared to choose your top three location choices. Applicants will be asked to provide a resume and a personal statement describing the candidate’s interest in the program. 

Eligibility

All applicants must:

Be current law students, who have completed at least their first year of law school by the start of their summer placement
Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident (e.g., green card)
For several placements, possess a valid driver’s license and access to adequate transportation during summer placement

Funding

Participants will receive a $5,000 stipend for their service. Students have the option to apply for unlimited outside funding through their university or other sources.

Program Participant Expectations

Attend a three-day training in May 2021
Complete 300 hours of service within an eight to ten–week period
Complete all required program reporting and documentation

Host Organizations

Candidates will be required to provide their top three host organization choices. The full list of host organizations is available here.

Housing and Transportation

If applicable, it is the participant’s responsibility to obtain housing and ensure adequate transportation throughout the summer placement. Host organizations will provide general information; however, it is not the responsibility of the host organization to provide direct housing or transportation assistance. Please pay attention to whether the opportunity you are applying for is remote or in-person.

Application Deadlines

December 21, 2020 : Application opens
February 8, 2021: Application closes at 11:59 p.m. ET
February – March 2021: Interviews with host organizations conducted on a rolling basis
March 20, 2021: Students notified of acceptance

Apply Now

The application for the 2021 Rural Summer Legal Corps is available here.

Questions?

If you have questions about Rural Summer Legal Corps, please review this website and our Frequently Asked Questions or send an email to [email protected].