In 2009, hundreds of emerging legal experts across the United States will offer assistance in helping people who face mortgage foreclosure and other problems through the Equal Justice Works 2009 Summer AmeriCorps program and the one-year AmeriCorps Legal Fellows program.
Every year in this country, four out of five low-income people in need of legal assistance are denied services because of overwhelming case loads at legal services offices and a dire shortage of attorneys who can help them.
Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps plays a crucial role in closing the gap between the supply and demand of legal assistance. AmeriCorps attorneys secure affordable housing, lost wages, orders of protection, health care, public benefits, adoption services, and education for low-income and underserved communities.
Today’s guests on Idealist podcast are Marty Costello, Program Manager, and Cole McMahon, Senior Program Manager, from Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps. They joined me to talk about the Summer Corps, a 300-hour AmeriCorps Education Award program for law school students, as well as its one-year, full-time AmeriCorps Legal Fellows program.
Download the podcast and listen!
The Equal Justice Works 2009 Summer Corps application opens today Wednesday, March 18 and closes on Wednesday, April 1; this summer’s corps will commit to providing assistance to those individuals and families facing mortgage foreclosure and will set aside Summer Corps positions for 1L and 2L law students working on eligible mortgage foreclosure-related issues. See a list of host sites and learn how to apply.
In exchange for a minimum of 300 hours of service, summer AmeriCorps members earn a $1,000 AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used to pay current educational expenses or qualified student loans. They also gain first-hand experience and legal skills in areas such as client intake, representation, legal research and writing.
In 2008, 333 Summer Corps members provided direct legal services to 18,395 low-income individuals. For more information on last year’s program, download the Equal Justice Works 2008 Summer Corps Summary of Accomplishments.
Equal Justice Works blog is part of the Idealist Grad School Blog Project.
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The New Service 
Pingback: Law students & lawyers at your service - new podcast! « Equal Justice Works Blog
I have sent this idea to all the Serve America Act the opportunity for the over age 55 to be able to “gift” the education grant to their children/or grandchildren.
Maria Rella
Boise, IDaho
Unemployment: With 3 generations of unemployed applicants competing for the same few jobs, it will be especially challenging for the unemployed age group over the age of 55 yrs old to find work for some time. It is essential that we identify purposeful work for the unemployed. In addition to loosing their jobs, many of the unemployed have also seen their retirement and children’s college funds disappear. This group will continue to feel angry, devalued and depressed ultimately resulting in increase to health care costs, etc.
I suggest an additional component be added to the Americorp program to allow the qualified volunteers over the age of 55 the ability to gift the Segal Education Award to their children and/or grandchildren and additionally provide them a housing allowance grant. This group can constructively be engaged in their community volunteering in non-profits that urgently need talent to support their over extended programs. A housing allowance grant will help offset their expenses, and they will regain their self-value by donating their education grant to their children and/or grandchildren for eligibility to two or four year college and/or technology education programs. These volunteer experiences may open the door to future job and opportunities as the economy recovers.