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.

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

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.

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.

Interested in Legal Work In Miami

If you would like to be considered for a volunteer internship position with Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., please email Jocelyn for a copy of the registration materials.

List of Federal Internships!

If you are interested in working for the federal government, you must check out the below link. Included are internships (year-round) working for the Department of Justice. Most of the positions are located in D.C. but there are other states represented as well.

Click HERE for the complete list.

Attention Alumni ... Get Involved!

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid will be offering area attorneys three two-hour continuing legal education seminars over the next three months focusing specifically on small claims and the closely related issue of garnishment. The free seminars, held on Fridays (March 19, April 16 and May TBA) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Jacksonville City Hall, will count for 2.5 CLE credits each. For more information including registration details, click HERE.

Looking For Experience?

If you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer with juveniles? The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Jacksonville Duval House has a need for volunteers.

Duval House is a moderate risk juvenile commitment facility for boys that have been adjudicated delinquent. The juveniles generally have committed serious property offenses and their offending is characterized by frequent and repeated law violations. Duval House is for boys ages 14-18 who have been assessed as moderate risks to public safety and require 24-hour awake supervision. The Duval House is a 24 bed facility.

Duval House has a need Mentors. Every month Duval House holds mentoring sessions at the facility. Mentoring involves visiting the facility and eating with the boys, playing basketball with them and basically just being a good influence/example and showing that you care by simply coming out.

Dinner will be served from 5-5:30. If you would like to eat with the young men, please notify the facility so that they will have a head count for the evening meal.

You can find a description of the facility by clicking the following HERE

If you are interested in volunteering, please call Duval House at 904-573-2411.

Looking For Inspiration? Consider Pro Bono Work

Florida attorneys have shown a committment to pro bono work. In a recent article, attorneys working for the Guardian ad Litem program in Tallahassee talk about their important work in representing children across the state. It's not too early to start now. Contact your local Guardian ad Litem office to learn how you can help a child today!

A little time for refelction ...

Law students are busy people. This fact remains true no matter where or when you attended law school. While immersed in one's studies, it is often difficult to remember about the moral and ethical obligation future lawyers have to serve the under served through pro bono work. In a recent acceptance speech for a national pro bono award, one Northwestern law student reflected on his service in law school and the impact it had on his life. It is certainly worth sharing for inspiration to give back in your own way as both a law student as a future attorney.

"People often ask me why I volunteer so much. Why do I serve? It’s because I know what it’s like to be in need. I know the pain. I know the heartache, the financial hardships and emotional turmoil. Given that, how dare I ignore the hungry? Who am I to turn my back on the children who have been told they’ll never make it? How can I consider writing articles and pontificate on the foreclosure crisis or Katrina when I have the power to help make it better? I give back because I know from personal experience the type of impact one person can have on another’s life. So I don’t see volunteering as simply volunteering, I see service as an obligation, a duty.... " To continue reading the full text of this moving speech, click HERE.

Pro Bono Fall Forum At Florida Coastal

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 29th, when Pro Bono is holding its annual Fall Forum. Representatives of numerous public interest agencies in Northeast Florida will be attending to share information with law students about volunteer opportunities in their organizations. A few examples of organizations that will be participating include:

~ Jacksonville Area Legal Aid

~ Three Rivers Legal Services

~ Learn to Read

~ HandsOn Jacksonville

~ Women's Center of Jacksonville

~ City Rescue Mission.

The event is being held in the atrium from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please join Pro Bono to find out how you can make a difference in the lives of others.

Career Services Tip . . . Experience is key for distinguishing yourself!!!!

Interested in Veteran's Rights?

Community Legal Services of Mid- Florida has started a program to give legal assistance to low-income veterans in Volusia, Flagler, Brevard and Putnam counties. The project aims to help low-income and homeless veterans with Veterans Administration claims, including disability compensation, pensions and other benefits, as well as family law, housing, bankruptcy and other legal issues. For more information, call 1-800-363-2357.

Looking For Immigration Experience?

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) is looking for student volunteers to assist with the Immigration Unit. Although bilingual (Spanish speaking) volunteers are most coveted, any student with an interest in immigration, may be considered. The weekly time committment is between 5-6 hours a week or more.

For more information, please send your resume to Nancy Hale.

Looking for Volunteer Work?

Organizing for America (OFA) is a non-profit entity that educates the public on the issue of health care reform. OFA is looking for volunteers to make phone calls and help organize community support for meaningful health care reform. This would be a great opportunity to get pro bono hours for those of you who have free time over the summer.

OFA interns are working out of the Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) office located at 4811 Beach Blvd. Health care reform is an important issue that affects all Americans. Contact Jenni Ramage to get more information by phone at (317) 502-4990 or by email at jramageOFA@gmail.com.

Get Experience This Summer WHEREVER You Are!

From coast to coast, at the mountains or at the beach . . . no matter where you are this summer, there is probably an opportunity to get some great pro bono experience. Take a moment and review the National Pro Bono Opportunities Guide for help in finding a great organization to volunteer your time. Opportunities are located NATIONWIDE! Remember, pro bono work is a great way to give back and get great legal experience!

Are You In Jacksonville & Looking For Experience?

Three Rivers Legal Services Has Pro Bono Legal Opportunities For YOU This Summer!

Three Rivers Legal Services is now accepting applications for volunteers to assist with the implementation of Client Services, Legal Clinics and Community Outreach Programs.
TRLS has a total of 3 programs available this summer for student participation; including Pro Se Clinics, Community Outreach Presentations, and In-Office/Research.

For more information including application instructions, click HERE.

The deadline for applying is June 1, 2009 at 4:00 PM.

For further information or to submit your application, please e-mail Deanna and Summer at jaxvolunteer@trls.org. For further information about Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc., please visit their website at http://www.trls.org/.

Remember . . . . experience is the KEY to building your resume!!!

Looking for Volunteer Work?

HandsOn Jacksonville is an organziation that helps individuals BE THE CHANGE you want to see in the world. From their website, you can search free of charge for opportunities among member agencies or get involved in projects. To learn more about HandsOn Jacksonville and all of their programs and services click HERE.

LexisNexis Associates Serving Public Interests Research (ASPIRE) Program

LexisNexis is proud to support 2009 graduates who pursue public service. Sign up to access certain LexisNexis services free of charge by clicking HERE. Eligible users include 2009 graduates who elect to pursue public interest work while searching for law firm employment, and 2009 graduates who pursue public interest work as a continuing profession.

If you are eligible, complimentary LexisNexis access will be provided throughout your public interest employment period, up until September 2010 maximum. Public interest employment must be for a non-profit or charitable organization.

This is a great resource from Lexis! For more information and application instructions, click HERE.

Where Are The Employers?

According to their PSLAWNet website, employers are finding it very easy to post openings using their online system.

If employers are using PSLawNet, shouldn't you???

"PSLawNet has been quite helpful for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Each time it has an attorney vacancy, the Office of the Attorney General for D.C. posts the job listing with PSLawNet. “Candidates consistently inform us that they learn about the job via PSLawNet”, says the Director of Recruitment and Hiring Office. With positive results, the Office of the Attorney General for D.C. highly recommends using PSLawNet to other public interest and government employers as a key recruiting resource to widely publicize your organization and attorney or law student job vacancies."

Have you logged in today?

New Legislation Supports Public Service

Last week, the President signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, joined by Senator Kennedy, President Bill Clinton, the Congressional leaders who supported the legislation, and countless others dedicated to passage of the bill at the SEED School, where service is a core part of the curriculum. Appropriately, the President announced a major call ... to continue reading, click HERE.

Isn't it great to see public service being recognized on the national level?