With the belief that everyone should have equitable access to affordable, nourishing, and culturally important food, the Food Justice Project serves UC Berkeley students and the wider Berkeley community who have been denied CalFresh benefits or whose benefits have been discontinued. Working closely with the Basic Needs Center, members will perform client intake interviews on behalf of the Homeless Action Center and meet with our supervising attorneys to determine how to advise the client on beginning or restoring their benefits. Accordingly, members will be able to gain experience by directly interacting with clients and preparing legal advice under attorney supervision.
Members may also choose to join the research and policy team to collaborate with the California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) to conduct legal research on food/labor/agricultural justice, support policy advocacy, plan social media campaigns, and support CRLA with ongoing litigation efforts.
We welcome students who are interested in food, environmental justice, social services, labor law, and more. Food justice is for everyone!
Supervision: Students in FJP provide legal services under the supervision of attorneys at Homeless Action Center and the California Rural Legal Assistance.
Time Commitment: Approximately 16-25 hours per semester (3 hours a week). Members will have bi-weekly meetings with the team, tentatively held on Tuesdays from 1-2PM. If a member meets with a client, they must also attend a mandatory meeting with the supervising attorney on the following Friday.
Members who join the research and policy team will have a separate bi-weekly meeting, tentatively held on the alternate Tuesday from 1-2PM.
For more information, please contact the student leaders at foodjustice@berkeley.edu and visit http://foodjusticeberkeleylaw.com/.