Welcome to Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps
The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Program was created in 2003 with the goal of improving access to justice by increasing the availability of pro bono legal services. Supported by an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the program offers law graduates the opportunity to promote public service among law students and at law schools, while developing their own legal and professional skills.
The primary responsibility of program participants, or Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellows, is to collaborate with community legal aid providers, law students, and law schools to develop quality pro bono opportunities that expand legal resources in low-income and underserved communities. During their year of service, participants develop creative ways to instill a public service ethic at law schools by raising awareness about issues faced by disadvantaged clients, engaging law schools and students in activities that expand the availability of legal services, and developing sustainable public interest programming. To gain hands-on, law-related expertise and experience, participants also provide direct legal assistance and/or develop substantive legal resources as part of their professional development and training throughout the program.
AmeriCorps Fellow projects are based at 17 host organizations across the country. Each host site has created its own project to meet the unaddressed legal needs in its community; however, all projects require AmeriCorps Fellows to collaborate with area law schools, student groups, community organizations, and legal aid providers in the creation of pro bono opportunities.
Member Benefits
In exchange for completing 1700 hours of service during their year with the program, AmeriCorps Fellows will receive:
- Valuable, hands-on, substantive legal and community organizing experience;
- A living allowance of $22,800;
- Health care and child care assistance (if income eligible);
- A $4,725 education award voucher to apply toward the payment of loans and other educational expenses;
- Eligibility to place all qualified student loans into forbearance and receive an interest accrual payment at the end of their service;
- The opportunity to attend a national training to develop leadership skills, learn effective practices, and meet their colleagues from across the country;
- Any supplemental benefits offered by their project site such as bar dues, relocation reimbursement, housing assistance, or a supplement to the education award; and
- The chance to make a difference by building capacity in low-income communities and developing a future generation of lawyers committed to pro bono service.
Program Resources
To support you throughout the program year, we have developed the following resources for your use, including:
This site guide is designed to facilitate site compliance with the administrative aspects of the AmeriCorps grant by providing a single location for basic guidance, forms, and key documents for the program. We encourage project directors and fiscal managers to use the guide as a resource throughout the program year.
This orientation guide is designed to facilitate program compliance with the administrative aspects of the AmeriCorps grant by familiarizing new members with basic background information, forms and key documents for the program. We encourage Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellows to use the guide as a resource throughout the program year.
Media Toolkit
Find out more about working with the media, how to get news coverage, and the tools you can use to do so. We encourage all Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellows to review this information in order to enhance the media coverage of your project.
WBRS Homepage The AmeriCorps Web Based Reporting System (WBRS) was initiated by the federal government for reporting and data tracking of all AmeriCorps programs. Sites are required to enter several forms (enrollment forms, time logs, progress reports, exit forms, etc.) into the WBRS database throughout the program year in order to keep CNCS apprised of their progress. Project Directors and Fiscal Managers must have a user name and a password to access the information in WBRS, which can be obtained from Equal Justice Works staff.
If you have additional questions or would like supplementary resources on AmeriCorps and/or any of its sponsoring programs, we encourage you to access the main AmeriCorps link provided.
Questions?
If you have any questions related to your participation in the program, please contact:
AmeriCorps Program Manager at (202) 466-3686, ext. 120 or
AmeriCorps Program Assistant at (202) 466-3686, ext. 140.