Pro Bono and Public Service Project Requests

Pro Bono Project Requests

Asian Law Caucus

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Asian Law Caucus

ADDRESS: 939 Market Street, Suite 201, San Francisco, CA 94103

CONTACT PERSON: Joren Lyons

PHONE: (415) 896-1701, ext. 122

EMAIL: joren@asianlawcaucus.org

WEBSITE: http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): Either.

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: To promote, advance and represent the legal and civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander communities, with a specific focus on addressing the needs of low-income Asian and Pacific Islanders.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: We have two kinds of clinics: advice/counsel, and assistance with immigration applications.

There is an advice/counsel clinic for immigration, and another for low-income workers. Both involve sitting down with a client to find out what kind of problem or question they have, getting the basic facts, talking it over with the attorney, and then relaying the advice to the client. The immigration clinic is on the first and third Thursday evening each month, and the employment clinic is on the second and fourth Wednesday. They start at 5:45pm, and run until 7:30 or 8:00.

The Saturday morning clinic is organized by the Asian Community Immigration Clinic, and helps low-income residents complete citizenship applications, family visa petitions, and other immigration applications. The clinics are in San Francisco (1st Saturday of the month), San Jose
(2nd Saturday), and Oakland (4th Saturday).

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): Saturday immigration clinics rotate: 940 Filbert Street in San Francisco, 4390 Telegraph Avenue, Suite A in Oakland, and 184 E. Jackson Street in San Jose. Wednesday and Thursday evening clinics are at our office.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Two to three hours
per clinic.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: Open.

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: Ability to speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, or Vietnamese is helpful, but not required.

APPLICATION PROCESS, if any: Call or e-mail Joren Lyons.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Ongoing. Will do group training early in the semester if there are enough new volunteers.

Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach

ADDRESS: 1212 Broadway #400, Oakland, CA 94612

CONTACT PERSON: Victor Hwang

PHONE: (510) 251-2846

EMAIL: vhwang@apilegaloutreach.org

WEBSITE: http://www.apilegaloutreach.org/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): e-mail

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: To provide culturally competent and client-empowering legal services to the most marginalized segments of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Conduct outreach for and staff monthly free legal services clinic.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE):

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Clinic is 2-3 hours per month. Outreach is 1-2 hours per month. Project is ongoing.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: 6-8 students

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT: Languages preferred, but not required: Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Hindi, Lao, …Courses preferred, but not required: family law, immigration, criminal.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Send a short cover letter and resume.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Ongoing

California Indian Legal Services

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: CALIFORNIA INDIAN LEGAL SERVICES

ADDRESS: 510 16th Street, Fourth Floor, Oakland, CA 94612

CONTACT PERSON: Ariel D. Clark

PHONE: (510) 835-0284

EMAIL: mailto:aclark@calindian.org

WEBSITE: http://www.calindian.org/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): Email preferred

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is an Indian-controlled, not-for-profit law firm devoted exclusively to the cause of Native American
rights.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: As part of our mission to help low-income Native Americans, CILS helps taxpayers determine if they are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC), a special tax credit for low-income workers that puts extra dollars in their refund check. If an individual qualifies for the credit, we help them prepare their tax returns free of charge.

CILS also has expertise in tax issues unique to Native Americans, so when preparing individuals’ tax returns, we can make sure that they do not pay taxes on certain Indian income that is exempt from taxation.  CILS partners with the Legal Aid Society of Orange County to use the Internet-based I-CAN!T EIC program to determine eligibility and prepare tax returns.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): Primarily the volunteers will work out of CILS’ Oakland Office. However, there will likely be opportunities for work in several of California ‘s Indian communities.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT (including training):
Minimum of 25 hours volunteer time required.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: As many as possible.

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: None.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any: Please submit resume and letter of interest to Patricia De La Cruz-Lynas, Human Resources Manager, California Indian Legal Services, 510 16th Street , 4th Floor, Oakland , CA 94612 , (Fax) 510-835-8045.  E-mail mailto:hiring@calindian.org.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 1, 2006.

California Law Revision Commission

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: California Law Revision Commission

ADDRESS: 4000 Middlefield Road , Room D-1, Palo Alto , CA 94303

CONTACT PERSON: Barbara Gaal

PHONE: 650-494-1335

EMAIL: mailto:bgaal@clrc.ca.gov

WEBSITE: http://www.clrc.ca.gov/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): email

ORGANIZATION’S ” MISSION “: Make recommendations to Governor and Legislature for revision of California ‘s laws.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Many different projects. It depends on priorities at the time student is available. Current high priority projects include common interest development law, mechanics lien law, beneficiary deeds, no contest clauses in wills and trusts.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): It may be possible to do some work in Boalt Hall library.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Depends on project.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: We do not have the resources to supervise more than one or two at any given time.

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: Most require 2L or higher, but some 1L projects may be available.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Submit resume, transcript, writing sample, references. We will call in for interview if submission looks promising for our purposes.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Any time.

Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Regional Counsel

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Regional Counsel Region IX

ADDRESS: 50 United Nations Plaza, Room #420, San Francisco, CA 94l02

CONTACT PERSON: Richard K. Waterman, Chief Counsel, Region IX

PHONE: (415) 437-8181

EMAIL: Richard.waterman@hhs.gov

WEBSITE: none

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): email or phone

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The San Francisco Regional Counsel’s office’s 18 attorneys provide oral and written legal advice to DHHS officials, represent DHHS in administrative hearings, and work with the Department of Justice in litigation involving DHHS’s many programs, which include Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and the Indian Health Service.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Work closely with an attorney on each assignment to perform legal research, draft legal advice memos and litigation briefs, analyze and marshal documentary evidence for hearing/trial, and prepare witnesses’ testimony.

PROJECT LOCATION: Same as above.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Open

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: Two (2)

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT: Full Time Law Student

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Resume and writing sample

APPLICATION DEADLINE: ongoing or open until filled

East Bay Community Law Center

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: East Bay Community Law Center

ADDRESS: 3130 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley. CA 94705

CONTACT PERSON: Chauniqua Young

PHONE: 510 548-4040×336

EMAIL: cyoung@ebclc.org

WEBSITE: http://www.ebclc.org/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT: phone/email

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: Since its founding in 1988 by law students at UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, EBCLC has become the largest provider of free legal services in the East Bay and a nationally-recognized poverty law clinic. We provide: desperately-needed legal services to the low-income community in the areas of housing, welfare, HIV/AIDS, homelessness and community economic development and hands-on clinical education to law students to make future lawyers aware of and skilled in addressing the needs of indigent communities.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: For the third consecutive year, EBCLC will host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site as part of the Alameda County VITA program. The program offers free tax preparation service for low-income individuals and families and can be an important tool in helping families to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

We are seeking 1-2 volunteers to help us with administrative tasks in preparation of our site’s opening in February. Administrative tasks include: developing outreach strategies and materials, compiling intake packets, and providing organizational assistance.

Additionally, we are looking for volunteer interpreters and tax preparers. Interpreters assist during tax season (January-April) by interpreting between tax filers and volunteer tax preparers and translating intake documents. Tax preparers prepare and file simple tax returns on behalf of low income tax filers. We strongly encourage volunteers who want to work as both interpreters and tax preparers to apply. Previous tax experience is not required

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE):

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: 20-25 hours. *Tax preparers attend tax law training in addition to preparing taxes during tax season and may exceed 25 hours. Our site opens for tax preparation: (2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 4/6) from 12-5 pm

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED:

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY:
Administrative: Excellent oral and written communication skills. Experience in an office environment. Computer literacy.

Tax Preparer: Ability to perform basic numerical calculations. Ability to work under pressure in an empathetic and professional manner. Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of groups, including low-income and minority clients. Tax preparers must also attend a free training on tax law and receive certification through the IRS. The training can be done at home, online, or through classes held by the VITA program. Bilingual skills desirable but not required

Interpreter: Bilingual fluency. Experience in an office environment. Ability to work under pressure in an empathetic and professional manner. Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of groups, including low-income and minority clients.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Please call for more information

APPLICATION DEADLINE: ASAP

Energy Conservation Finance Institute

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Energy Conservation Finance Institute

ADDRESS: 351 California Street, Ste 550, San Francisco, CA 94104

CONTACT PERSON: John Domingos

PHONE: 415 394 7000

EMAIL: john@domingos.com

WEBSITE: (in development)

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): email john@domingos.com

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The primary purpose of the Institute shall be to develop the government policies, legal framework, regulatory provisions and financial instruments necessary to create a sustained capital market to support large scale investment in energy conservation technologies in the private sector in order to achieve greater efficiencies in national energy consumption.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This would be the first stage of a multistage project. Practicing attorneys would work with each participating student. The primary purpose of the first stage will be to identify existing legal principles, structures and documents that relate to the following: Regulatory Law (California PUC rules requiring regulated utilities to bill to recover investment in improvements to buildings which reduce and dynamically control energy consumption.); Entity Formation (What form of organization might be used to form a “Conservation Improvements District”? Analogies might exist with Water Districts or Sewer Districts.); Tax Exempt Financing (Might the Conservation District place tax exempt securities?); Real Property Security Interests (How might the Conservation District collateralize its right to repayment from each “district member” who has a real property benefiting from investment by the Conservation District?); Real Property Leases (A major source to resistance to retrofit of existing commercial rental property. How is the reduced building operating cost shared by landlord and tenant? Existing practices, lease provisions.); Public-Private Partnerships (How do we empower the private sector for form, capitalize, operate and maintain the Conservation District? The buildings will incorporate latest technologies and will require real time information and support systems.)

PROJECT LOCATION: Most work can be done at the Boalt law library.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Estimate 20 hours in each section except security interests. This could take 40 hours.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: 1 for each topic, two for security interests (7 total)

QUALIFICATIONS: Classes in areas described above helpful.

APPLICATION PROCESS: None, contact John Domingos (see above)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: None – A group is considering entering the Haas social venture competition. This project could dovetail in interesting ways

The Hawkins Center

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The Hawkins Center

ADDRESS: 101 Broadway Ave. Richmond, CA 94804

CONTACT PERSON: Chelsey Burns, Attorney

PHONE: (510) 232-6611 ext. 20

EMAIL: cburns@hawkinscenter.org

WEBSITE: http://www.hawkinscenter.org/ (this website is under construction and some of the information is out-of-date)

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): email cburns@hawkinscenter.org phone (510) 232-6611

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The Hawkins Center works to improve the health and financial stability of people with disabilities. In partnership with service organizations, The Hawkins Center provides high quality legal, social, and educational services, and advocates for changes in policy. In all its programs, the agency promotes dignity, respect, and fairness for people with disabilities.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

There are many possible projects available. Two possibilities are:

1) Prepare a brief to an administrative law judge requesting an On The Record (OTR) decision for one of our disabled clients whose application for disability benefits is currently pending before Social Security’s Office of Hearings and Appeals. This project would involve reading and analyzing medical records, doctor reports, agency decision statements, and administrative laws and regulation. The student will receive direct attorney supervision in the drafting of a short brief, which in the end, may serve as an excellent writing sample for the student.

2) Prepare an objection to one of Social Security’s medical experts. This project would involve extensive file review to locate specific evidence that will be compiled and presented in a letter of objection to the Social Security Administration.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): N/A

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: 25 hours

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: 1 or 2 per project

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY:

APPLICATION PROCESS: email resume and cover letter to cburns@hawkinscenter.org and put “Boalt Hall Pro Bono Project” in the subject line.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: ongoin

Homeless Action Center

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Homeless Action Center

ADDRESS: 2500 MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley CA 94704

CONTACT PERSON: Lisa Lunsford, Staff Attorney

PHONE: (510) 540-0878 x306

EMAIL: Lisa.Lunsford@homelessactioncenter.org

WEBSITE: homelessactioncenter.org

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT: e-mail and phone

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The Homeless Action Center (HAC) is a non-profit legal services agency serving low-income residents of Alameda County. Interns should expect a rewarding and challenging experience, requiring commitment and patience, in a small, friendly, casual, sometimes hectic office with close attorney supervision. Please note that the HAC staff also includes a cat and dog.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Under the supervision of staff attorneys, interns work directly with homeless, mentally-disabled clients, providing representation in claims for Social Security disablity benefits. Depending on interns’ interests, HAC can assign interns their own caseload of clients, or assign a hearing brief, or both. Writing a brief could take anywhere from one to two months, whereas the general handling of clients’ cases requires a semester long commitment. Interns who are interested in representing clients in their disablity claims are assigned clients who have claims at the initial and appellate leveles. All interns are responsible for interviewing clients, obtaining and analyzing medical and other evidence, developing legal arguments, writing persuasive letters, corresponding with clients’ physicians and Social Security, coordinating medical appointments, drafting briefs and other legal documents, preparing clients for hearings, and attending ALJ hearings involving direct and cross examinations. Interns may also represent clients in other public benefits claims, including General Assistance, CalWorks, and Food Stamps. Interns are required to attend a monthly case review meeting and are supervised directly by staff attorneys who are available at all times.

For more information about HAC, see our website at http://www.homelessactioncenter.org/

NUMBER OF HOURS STUDENT EXPECTED TO WORK: Minimum of 6 hours per week until brief or semester complete.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Will vary from one month to entire semester, depending on project and student.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please send resume and a short cover letter to Lisa.Lunsford@homelessactioncenter.org to begin process. You will then be contacted for an interview.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Ideally, student should attend our two-day training at the beginning of the semester, which is usually the first Friday (and following Monday) in February, June, and September. The training addresses Social Security administrative law and regulations, advocacy, client confidentiality, other public benefits, and special issues in working with homeless and mentally disabled clients.

 

Housing and Economic Rights Advocates

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Housing and Economic Rights Advocates

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 29435, Oakland CA 94604 (Street Address is 1305 Franklin, Suite 305, Oakland)

CONTACT PERSON: Maeve Elise Brown, Co-Director

PHONE: (510) 271-8443

EMAIL: melisebrown@heraca.org

WEBSITE: heraca.org

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT: e-mail and phone

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA) is a California statewide, not-for-profit legal service and advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure that all persons, particularly lower-income, minority, elderly, and other vulnerable persons, are protected from discrimination and economic abuses, especially in the realm of housing. HERA’s core practice areas are fair housing and predatory lending. Our direct legal representation services are available primarily in Northern California, while our technical assistance and capacity building services are available statewide.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: In support of HERA’s efforts to combat predatory mortgage lending, HERA seeks law students to participate in following up with and interviewing residents in the City of Oakland and Alameda County who may have been the victims of predatory mortgage lending abuse. HERA’s experienced attorneys will provide supervision and training to equip students to undertake this task.

PROJECT LOCATION: TBA –Interviews may take place at a site in Berkeley and at community based organizations in Oakland.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Individual client interviews may range from 45 minutes to 2 hours.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: 15

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: foreign language skills a plus (particularly Spanish, Vietnames, and Chinese). Interviewing experience a plus. Experience working with diverse communities a plus.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Please send resume and a short cover letter to melisebrown@heraca.org to begin process. You will then be contacted for an interview.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 1, 2006.

International Institute of the East Bay

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: International Institute of the East Bay

ADDRESS: 449 15th Street, Suite 201, Oakland, CA 94612

CONTACT PERSON: Susan Bowyer, Managing Attorney

PHONE: (510) 451-2846, ext. 304

EMAIL: sbowyer@iieb.org

WEBSITE: http://www.iieb.org/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT: email

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The mission of the International Institute of the East Bay is to act as resource for immigrants and refugees, enabling them to achieve self-sufficiency; and to promote mutual appreciation and understanding within the community.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
(1) Under supervision of on-site staff and pro bono attorneys, intake and brief consultations at free immigration clinics Tuesdays and Thursdays.
(2) Intake and brief consultations on immigration relief for battered immigrants at the Family Justice Center, under the supervision of Managing Attorney and Boalt Hall 3L intern at the FJC.
(3) Declaration drafting for applications for immigration relief for battered immigrants.
Training on substantive immigration law and intake procedures provided at the beginning of each semester and summer session.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): IIEB’s office and the Alameda County Family Justice Center.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: We need commitment of at least 10 clinic sessions (2 sessions per week for 5 weeks or 1 session per week for 10 weeks) for option (1); 10 weeks at the Family Justice Center for option (2); One month for option (3).

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: Option 1: 3; Option 2: 2; Option 3: 2

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: 2L or 3L required; Spanish fluency preferred; Participation in CARC, DV clinic or other clinic preferred; knowledge of immigration law preferred.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Email cover and resume to sbowyer@iieb.org

APPLICATION DEADLINE: For Spring, 2006: December 16, 2005. For Fall, 2006: August 1, 2006.

Legal Community Against Violence

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Legal Community Against Violence

ADDRESS: 268 Bush Street, No. 555, San Francisco, CA 94102

CONTACT PERSON: Roger Tansey

PHONE: 414-433-2062

EMAIL: roger@lcav.org

WEBSITE: http://www.lcav.org/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT: email (no phone calls,please)

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: Legal Community Against Violence is a public interest law center dedicated to preventing gun violence. Founded by lawyers, LCAV is the country’s only organization devoted exclusively to providing legal assistance in support of gun violence prevention.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: LCAV provides legal assistance to elected officials and community groups nationwide in the area of preventing gun violence. As such, we have an ongoing need for students adept at research and writing. The specific legal areas involved can vary widely, from constitutional law to the firearm laws of a particular state. Students should visit our website to review the policy papers, description of state laws, and other reports for samples of our work. Typical research projects would be: Please describe the new “make my day” law in Florida? What is the current status of the right to bear arms in Kentucky? Does Ohio preempt local regulation of firearms and, if so, in what areas? We would expect the final product to be a succinct legal memorandum, fully answering the question (longer is not necessarily better). The student could probably use the work later as a writing sample for other positions.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): After an initial interview at LCAV, the student could perform research at our offices or anywhere he or she has access to online legal research services. Results of research would then be presented at LCAV offices.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Varied

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: depends

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: Someone with a good research background and writing skills would certainly be of help to us, even if they were 1Ls. 1Ls that have taken legal research and writing and constitutional law, but 2Ls and 3Ls preferred.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Please send email with resume and writing sample.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: We have no deadline and students are accepted throughout the year. We offer paid internships during the summer for those who have completed at least their first year. Those who have volunteered for LCAV in the past receive preference for our paid positions.

Office of the Family Law Facilitator, Superior Court of California, Alameda County

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Office of the Family Law Facilitator, Superior Court of California, Alameda County

ADDRESS: 1225 Fallon Street – Room 240, Oakland, Ca. 94612

CONTACT PERSON: Candace Goldman, Esq.

PHONE: (510)-208-4971

EMAIL: cgoldman@alameda.courts.ca.gov

WEBSITE: www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/courts/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT: Phone or email.

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The mandate of the Office of the Family Law Facilitator is to work with self-represented litigants who have family law actions involving child support and attendant issues. We assist litigants with DCSS (Dept. of Child Support Services) cases, financial calculations and mediations, starting dissolutions and private paternity actions, Orders to Show Cause, and general information about the legal process and procedures they need to follow to move their cases to conclusion.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: We have a variety of projects for students, both in our office and in conjunction with the family law
division of the Court. These include:

1. Default Judgment Review: Students would review family law default judgments submitted by litigants to ensure that the necessary paperwork has been completed, filed, and served, and students would participate in hands-on clinics to assist litigants directly in reviewing the papers and helping them make corrections or complete papers required to obtain a judgment.

2. Orders After Hearing/Courtroom Assistance: Students would learn how to write orders for the Family Law judges and attend morning family law hearings to assist in the courtroom with orders.

3. Family Law Facilitator Office: Students would work directly in the Office of the Family Law Facilitator, learning to perform the tasks of the office, including doing litigant intake and providing brief information and referrals, teaching workshops on family law, and assisting in court with financial mediations, providing procedural assistance, and preparing orders. Students would also work on developing and participating in community outreach programs.

4. Informational Guides/Court Templates/Forms: Students would develop and draft instructional and informational guides for self-represented litigants to guide them through the process of starting, continuing, and concluding a case. This could also involve developing local forms for court use where no state-wide forms exist. These guides, once finalized, would be made available on both the local and AOC websites so other litigants and court personnel could access them and use or modify for their locations as needed. Students would also work on developing templates/forms for internal court use in various program areas.

5. Website Development: Students with particular interest in IT/media would assist in improving the local web pages for the Family Law Facilitator and updating information as the law, local rules, and programs change. This development is substantive in nature, not IT programming only. Students would not need to be programmers to work on this project.

PROJECT LOCATION: We have two offices – our main office is at the Oakland courthouse; the second office is next to the courthouse in Hayward(224 West Winton, Room 179). There is also a family law department in Pleasanton where some students could devote time working with the judge at that location.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Timelines vary for each project, and some of these are ongoing in nature. Once trained, students could most easily complete the default judgment and orders after hearing projects within the limited community service commitment time. Working on some of the other projects would take more time to complete.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: Five – possibly more (for now, up to eight).

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: Family Law Coursework preferred, but not required. However, it is not a prerequisite.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Send (email is fine) a resume and cover letter. We will review these and set up interviews before accepting students into the program. Students must complete paperwork and be fingerprinted to work with the court.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: For each academic semester, we would like to have applications submitted at least one month before the beginning of the semester so the process of acceptance, training and scheduling can be completed by the beginning of the semester.

Office of the State Public Defender

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD)

ADDRESS: 221 Main Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105

CONTACT PERSON: Arcelia Hurtado

PHONE: (415) 597-5815

EMAIL: hurtado@ospd.ca.gov

WEBSITE: http://www.ospd.ca.gov/

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT: e-mail. My e-mail address is hurtado@ospd.ca.gov

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The Office of the State Public Defender was created by the California Legislature in 1976 to represent indigent criminal defendants on appeal. The office was formed in response to the need of the state appellate courts, for consistent, high-quality representation for defendants. For the first 13 years of its existence OSPD’s workload was predominantly complex non-capital felonies on appeal to the Courts of Appeal, with a handful of capital murder cases in the mix.

Throughout this decade the number of condemned inmates sitting on Death Row awaiting appointment of counsel, often for years, has steadily increased. Due to this fact, since 1990, OSPD’s mandate from all three branches of government has been redirected toward an exclusive focus upon death penalty cases. We litigate these cases both on appeal and habeas corpus in the California Supreme Court, and in the United States Supreme Court on certiorari petitions.

The work of the office is often at the cutting edge of criminal law. We have appeared in the California Supreme Court in over 250 cases and in the United States Supreme Court in a half dozen cases where certiorari review was granted. We have been responsible for major developments in the areas of capital litigation, due process, right to counsel, confessions, jury selection, search and seizure, sentencing and many other issues.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The projects vary but generally involve research on neighborhoods where our clients grew up. This research is broad in nature, and includes Census data, racial composition of neighborhoods, school drop out rates, economic levels of residents, etc. It will entail finding information in various libraries and online.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): Will vary with assignment but includes UC Berkeley library, various Southern California libraries, social service agencies, etc. Other projects may require work in the San Francisco office.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: 25-40 hours,depending

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: 2-3

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT: Commitment to indigent criminal defense, ability to be flexible in performing varied tasks, library and internet research skills, persistence, and prompt attention to deadlines.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Cover letter and resume via e-mail. Interviews by phone.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 1, 2005 for current semester, January 15, 2006 for Spring sem.

San Diego County Department of the Public Defender

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: San Diego County Department of the Public Defender

ADDRESS: 233 A Street, Suite 500, San Diego CA 92101

CONTACT PERSON: Melvin Epley or Mina Greenman

PHONE: (619) 338-4865

EMAIL: Filomena.Greenman@sdcounty.ca.gov

WEBSITE: www.sdcounty.ca.gov/public_defender

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): By phone or email

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: Offer legal services to indigent persons charged with criminal offenses.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Winter Break Volunteer Internship

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): Countywide (Downtown, Vista, El Cajon, South Bay)

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: It depends. We have some flexibility. Winter program starts December 12, 2005 to December 30, 2005.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: Interested students

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: 2L, 3L

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Cover letter, resume. Writing sample and set for phone interview

APPLICATION DEADLINE: For 2005-2006, deadline: ASAP

U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration

ADDRESS: 71 Stevenson St., Ste. 915, San Francisco, CA 94105

CONTACT PERSON: David Moltzen, Senior Investigator

PHONE: 415 975-4590 ext. 113

EMAIL: moltzen.david@dol.gov

WEBSITE: www.dol.gov/ebsa

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): phone; faxed resumes

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: EBSA administers Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Title I establishes minimum standards which employee benefit plans must satisfy with regard to such matters as employee eligibility to participate, vesting, funding, fiduciary responsibility, and reporting and disclosure. EBSA field offices, including the San Francisco Regional Office, conduct investigations of ERISA-covered plans to ensure compliance with ERISA. Many of our investigators are attorneys.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The students would assist in “targeting”, i.e.,ascertaining and selecting, potential cases to open in our regional office investigative project on benefit plans having contracts with insurance companies which have demutualized. We have found that in some cases the benefit plans did not receive the stock or other consideration they were due after demutualization. The cases we open pursuant to the demutualization project are intended to correct ERISA violations in this respect. The case targeting would be accomplished by reviewing documentation obtained from one or more demutualized companies by administrative subpoena and determining, possibly after contacting the employers by telephone for additional information, on which benefit plans cases should be opened. The students may then be involved in the case opening, file preparation, and initial investigative processes.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): N/A

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: Approximately 40 hours per student, or more if possible.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED: 2

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: Knowledge of ERISA law would be helpful but is not required, because the students will learn about ERISA in their work for EBSA. Knowledge of the insurance industry would also be helpful, but again not required.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any (phone call, resume, cover letter, interview): Please submit resumes to the contact above. Interviews will then be scheduled.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Dec. 6, 2005. We would like to have the students begin their work by the end of November, if possible.

Volunteer Legal Services Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco

NAME OF ORGANIZATION: Volunteer Legal Services Program of The Bar Association of San Francisco

ADDRESS: 465 California Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94104

CONTACT PERSON: Megan Low

PHONE: 415.782.8958

EMAIL: mlow@sfbar.org

WEBSITE: http://www.sfbar.org/vlsp%20or%20www.probono.net/sf

PREFERRED MODE OF CONTACT (phone, email, etc.): Email

ORGANIZATION’S “MISSION”: The Volunteer Legal Services Program (VLSP) of The Bar Association of San Francisco provides pro bono legal and related social services to low-income and homeless people in San Francisco. We do this primarily through the use of volunteer attorneys, law students, paralegals, social workers and other qualified professionals.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: VLSP’s Legal Advice and Referral Clinics are held twice a month, on Saturdays at two different locations in San Francisco. These clinics are open to the general public and are walk-in clinics where individuals can get free consultations in almost every area of law. Law students are needed to volunteer as legal interviewers.

PROJECT LOCATION (IF OTHER THAN ABOVE): Main Branch of the SF Public Library, 100 Larkin Street at Grove, San Francisco OR The Joseph Lee Gym, 1395 Mendell Street (at Newcomb), San Francisco.

ESTIMATED TIME NECESSARY FOR COMPLETION OF PROJECT: 4 hours on a Saturday.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDED:

QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO DO THIS PROJECT, IF ANY: good writing skills. We provide a volunteer orientation.

APPLICATION PROCESS if any: Contact Megan Low, Recruitment Coordinator at mlow@sfbar.org or at 415.782.8958. Send a resume, give some background information and ask for a volunteer application.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: ongoing.