Volunteer Opportunities in Jacksonville

Looking for volunteer work? HandsOn Jacksonville may be the place for you. Check out the website and learn all about the opportunities to give back to your community.

Student Spotlight: Caroline Cowan

Three Rivers Legal Services recently highlighted third year law Florida Coastal law student, Caroline Cowan for her exemplary public service. While at Three Rivers, Caroline has worked on a variety of legal issues while interning with us. For example, she has researched various legal issues (e.g. landlord/tenant, child custody, debt collection, unemployment comp, foreclosure, evidence, municipal code enforcement, veterans' disability, tax), Drafted Answers (foreclosure complaints), drafted Petitions (summary administration, formal administration, homestead exemption, expungement), Orders (summary administration, formal administration, homestead exemption), Appeals (unemployment comp, veterans' disability), Motions (to dismiss, for default judgment), Drafted Wills, Edited Custody Arrangement Pamphlet, Drafted Advice Letters (debt collection, unemployment comp, probate), Ineligibility Letters, Demand Letters, and Closing Letters, and Completed a Tax Return for 2009

Caroline says that she has learned much while interning at Three Rivers because has worked on so many different legal issues. Working here has made her realize what she really likes doing and what she wants to avoid in the future. In Caroline’s opinion she has received ... to continue reading the entire article and learn more about Three Rivers, click HERE.

Did You Know ...

JANUARY IS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH???

The Duval County Juvenile Detention Facility (Duval House) is in need of mentors and tutors for the young men currently housed at the facility. Your commitment would be a minimum of once or twice per month for a few hours each time. Long term commitments are preferable but not necessary. The facility is somewhat flexible regarding scheduling and will work around your class/study time.

If you are interested in more information or to sign up as a volunteer mentor or tutor please contact:

Alisa Wilkes, Esq.
Duval House Advisory Board Member
(904) 566-8468
awilkes@sextonandwykoff.com

Exciting Opportunity!

The U.S. Attorney Office applicaiton deadline is rapidly approaching. The deadline for submitting application materials for a credit bearing externship is 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26th. While 1Ls who will have completed all 1st year required courses by the beginning of the summer are eligible, 2Ls are especially encouraged to apply. The GPA requirement for this externship placement is a 2.75.

Interested students should submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, writing sample and the U.S. Attorney's Office pre-interview questionnaire to Cleopartra Smith (in the Clinic Office - Room 255) by the application deadline. The cover letter should include your geographical preference---Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando or Fort Meyers. The cover letter should be addressed to the following:

Judith Hoberman, Human Resources Specialist
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida
Tampa, Florida

Any questions can be answered by the Clinic Office.

Want To Learn More About Immigration?

Consider attending some upcoming events here in Jacksonville to learn more about the naturalization process. A great opportunity for observation!

Naturalization Ceremony

January 20th 2011
10:30 am
Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse
300 N. Hogan Street

Naturalization Ceremony

March 24th 2011
10:30 am
Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse
300 N. Hogan St.

Exellent Opportunity In Jacksonville

This semester, the Family Nurturing Center would like to recruit students to help at the Center. For students who are able to commit at least one year, they can appear on behalf of the Center at domestic violence hearings and provide new client orientations.

Available Court Days:
Duval Domestic Violence – Monday and Wednesday Mornings
Nassau Domestic Violence – Tuesday Mornings

Available Orientation Days:
Monday morning and afternoon
Wednesday morning
Thursday afternoon

For students who are only able to commit to the current semester, the Center has non-legal pro bono service hours available for the student who can lead study hours and work with children on reading Monday – Friday between 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. This opportunity can be customized (for example, two students may want to team up and volunteer together for one hour doing a story and snack for children ages 4-6 on Tuesdays).

The Center will have an open house for any interested students on Friday, Jan. 7th from noon to 1 p.m. in room 465. Pizza will be served! Students should R.S.V.P. to leigh@fncflorida.org

HandsOnJacksonville Is Looking For Volunteers!

Do you have some time to volunteer this holiday season?

School: Biscayne Elementary
Address: 12230 Biscayne Blvd., 32218
Phone No: 904-714-4650

Decorating/distribution Day Thursday, December 2, 2010 - Volunteers still needed
Arrival time: 6 P.M.
Report to: The front office
Parking: The front parking lot
Volunteers are needed to place backpacks and gifts on each student’s desk as well as toss gold tinsel in the hallways. Some heavy lifting is required so strong women and men are most welcome.

Saint Nicholas Discovery Day Friday, December 3, 2010 – Volunteers still needed
Arrival time: 7:45 - 8:00 A. M. (schools begins at 8:30)
Report to: Front Office. Please have drivers license ready.
Parking: The front parking lot
Coffee and light breakfast will be served

On the morning of Friday, December 3rd more than 6,000 children will come to school and find that their hallways have been decorated with gold tinsel. The students will find backpacks stuffed with books and toys on their desk and volunteers to read The Secrets of Saint Nicholas book. Volunteer readers will need to borrow a copy of the book from a student. Volunteers are encouraged to engage the students in a conversation about other ways they can show giving at school and home. You may also ask the teacher about reading another story of their choice. A live Saint Nicholas will also make his rounds visiting the children.

For more information, contact Jacqui Scuncio.

Is Volunteer Work A Job-Seeker's "Secret Weapon"?

HandsOn Jacksonville seems to think so. Click here to learn more about the positive impact volunteering can have on a job-seeker's employment and networking prospects. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, develop a new skill set, and meet professionals in your area of interest.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is looking for 2L Students

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is looking for 2L students to work at least 20 hours per week for $10.00 per hour doing intake either by phone or in person. Intake is heavy client interaction, completing checklists and asking questions to determine the needs of the client. JALA is looking for candidates who can commit through graduation

The student must also be able to work within our client database conducting prescreens prior to interviews and then inputting information taken from the clients into the same database. It would be helpful (but not mandatory) if the student has performed client interviews through FCSL clinics.

For all the application instructions ... log into Symplicity today.

Calling All Alums & Recent Graduates

In conjunction with the Jacksonville Bar Association and the Florida Bar Foundation's OnePromiseFlorida.org, Fourth Judicial Circuit Public Defender (and Florida Coastal alum!)Matt Shirk is hosting a third Pro Bono Opportunities criminal law training course for interested, private attorneys in the Jacksonville area.

The session is open to all attorneys in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. No criminal law experience is necessary. It will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, in the First Floor Conference Room of the Public Defender Office and will feature five separate CLE courses, touching on different aspects of criminal law. Upon completion of the training session, participants will be appointed as Special Assistant Public Defenders (SAPD's) and become eligible for a later assignment to one misdemeanor case.

"We have several people enlisted to participate in our third, Pro Bono Opportunities training program and there is certainly room for more," said APD Cynthia Hunold, director of County Court in the PD office. "To date this has been a valuable program for our community; the clients receive great attention, the SAPD gets hands-on experience and it benefits all taxpayers because the burgeoning caseload handled by APD's is minimized."

Attorneys in the Fourth Judicial Circuit interested in enlisting in the Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities training program on Oct. 15 are encouraged to call or email Director Hunold at (904) 630-1578 or cch@pd4.coj.net by Monday, Oct. 11. Additional details about the day's program will be made available closer to the event.

Jacksonville attorneys and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid continue to make the news for all of the great things they are accomplishing. In a recent article, the economy's affect on child support payments has gotten some attention.

With many people experiencing job loss due to the economy, some parents have fallen behind in child support payments. They are at risk of having their driver’s license suspended or of being held in contempt of court for nonpayment, thereby exacerbating their problems. Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has been inundated with child support modification requests and simply cannot handle the caseload. Two Jacksonville area attorneys, Marla Buchanan, a Rogers Towers attorney and chair of the Family Law Section of The JBA, and Jamie Ibrahim, a family law staff attorney with JALA, have teamed up to combat this ever-increasing issue by creating a new group assistance opportunity, the Child Support Modification Clinic at JALA. The purpose of this clinic is to provide general guidance to persons who believe they have had a substantial change in circumstances since their most recent Child Support Order and would like to request a modification. Participants receive information on how to file their own petitions for .... click HERE for the full article.

Paid Work-Study Positions NOW AVAILABLE

There are three paid work-study positions available for 2L, 3L, and second semester 1L candidates. Check your email for application instructions and your opportunity to work at

• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid - deadline 9/14


• Three Rivers Legal Services - deadline 9/10


• Compassionate Families - deadline 9/16

Get Experience NOW

Mark your calendars to attend a Clinic Information Meeting! This is a great way to learn about the application process, requirements, and benefits of a clinics.

Please pick one session to attend ...
Friday, Sept 10th, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Room 400
Monday, Sept. 13th, 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. Room 450
Tuesday, Sept 14th, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Room 515
Wednesday, Sept 15th, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Room 400
Thursday, Sept. 9th, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Room 450 (**judicial externships**)


The deadline for submitting applications for the Spring 2011 semester will be noon on Friday, Sept. 24th.

All classes are encouraged to attend to learn about these exciting opportunities to get real-world experience!

Volunteer Opportunities Available NOW

Those looking for some great hands-on volunteer work in the Jacksonville area are encouraged to to contact the Office of Fourth Circuit Public Defender's Office.

The volunteers in the Public Defender’s Office Investigation Unit is primarily concerned with the client interview, but may possibly be involved with:
• Performing online research
• Conducting interviews of witnesses, victims
• Accompanying staff to crime scenes to gather evidence
• Processing evidence for cases and sometimes trials
• Constructing court exhibits for criminal trial proceedings

Individuals interested in this type of volunteer work should contact the Office of the Public Defender today by phone or email to get started. Investigator Andrew Ewing coordinates the program and can be reached at (904) 630-1579 or AET@PD4.coj.net

JALA in the News!

A recent article discussed the work of pro bono attorneys working with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. For the complete article, click HERE.

To learn more about Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA), click HERE.

Amazing Fall Opportunity - *** LAST MINUTE***

A new fall opportunity has just become available. Read below for all the GREAT information!

Family Support Services of North Florida
Students will be working with in-house counsel focusing on business, corporation and contract law, with some potential labor/employment issues. There will be a little exposure to adoption/family law, but this position would deal mostly with standard in-house matters.

Applications are being accepted TODAY and TOMORROW ONLY. Interested students need to email their resumes and unofficial transcript to Lydia Russo.

Highlight On Americorps Fellowships

Fellowships in the areas of domestic violence, homeless preventation and veterans' rights are available NOW in Gainesville and Jacksonville for recent graduates. Log into PSLAWNET today to learn more about the requirements and application process.

* Americorps Fellowship (Domestic Violence), Three Rivers Legal Services, Gainesville, FL
* Americorps Fellowship (Homeless Prevention), Three Rivers Legal Services, Gainesville, FL
* Americorps Fellowship (Homeless Prevention), Three Rivers Legal Services, Jacksonville, FL
* Americorps Fellowship (Veterans Rights), Three Rivers Legal Services, Jacksonville, FL

Summer Volunteer Projects

Are you interested in diversifying your resume this summer? Check out two great opportunties from HandsOn Jax.

Earth Aid and Ambassadors for the Earth– 2 positions available.
Responsibilities would be to develop several environmental initiatives. This volunteer opportunity would focus on the partnership between Earth Aid and JEA, Beaches Electric, City of Jacksonville and other potential businesses and agencies. The main focus will be marketing the program, targeting and visiting businesses, schools and agencies in order to increase individual accounts on Earth Aid in Northeast Florida.

Children’s Disaster Preparedness Summer Program – 2 positions available.
Responsibility would include researching children’s summer programs through the City of Jacksonville, DCPS, non profit agencies, etc. to schedule Disaster Kids Presentations. Also, this position would include setting up and leading Disaster Kids Leader trainings.

If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please fax a cover letter and resume to Judith A. M. Smith, DM President & Chief Executive Officer, HandsOnJacksonville, at 904.332.6722.

Congratulations Michael Figgins!

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a wonderful organization which works with many FCSL student volunteers and employs many of our graduates. We were thrilled to hear about the recent accolades of JALA under the leadership of Executive Director, Michael Figgins. Click here for more information about JALA and the changes over the past 15 years. For information about volunteering at JALA, contact Career Services.

AVAILABLE: Paid Fellowship For Florida Coastal Students

Interested in public service work? Looking for a job? If your answer is yes to these questions, then you do not want to miss out on this terrific opportunity.

The Florida Bar Foundation has awarded Florida Coastal School of Law a grant to offer second and third year law students fellowships during the summer 2010, fall 2010, and spring 2011. The Florida Bar Foundation Fellowship was established to offer law students the opportunity to assist public service organizations located in Florida.

Eligible students will work with organizations that represent traditionally underrepresented clients, groups, or interests. In the past students have worked with the American Civil Liberties Union, State Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, and Three Rivers Legal Services.

This year there are nine positions available, two in the summer 2010, three in the fall 2010, and four in the spring 2011.

To be eligible, students must have a 2.4 cumulative GPA, and they must have completed thirty credit hours as of April 16, 2010. Students who are selected will be required to work 140 hours; students will receive $10 per hour for their work.

If you are interested in applying for a fellowship, you should submit your resume and cover letter to Professor Millard at kmillard@fcsl.edu The deadline to apply is Friday, April 16, 2010 by 5 p.m. See http://www.fcsl.edu/pro-bono/fellowship-program for more information about the Florida Bar Foundation Fellowship.