Volunteer Opportunities

margaretta homsey kroeger image
Margaretta Homsey Kroeger
Health and Disability Law
Elder, Health and Disability
“Kelly” was abused as a child and entered the foster care system at age 13. She spent the next five years in and out of various foster families and group homes, until she turned 18 and “aged out” of the system. She tried to make it on her own, but had serious mental health issues and was unable to hold a job. Alone and without anyone to advocate for her, she soon lost the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits which had provided her with something to live on, and she stopped receiving much-needed mental health treatment.
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Deferred Associates | AmeriCorps | Fellowships |

Deferred Associates

GBLS hosted 10 Deferred Associates last year and is interested in hosting others who are looking to join GBLS in its mission providing high-quality free civil legal assistance for poor people in Greater Boston.

Deferred Associates will work with and be supervised by experienced GBLS staff, many of whom are considered national experts in their respective areas of poverty law.  Their responsibilities will involve direct representation of clients and  provision of advice, referrals, brief service, participation in community education and outreach activities, as well as other related work.

Interested individuals should email a cover letter and resume to Sonia Marquez, Director of Human Resources at jobs@gbls.org.

GBLS is an AA/EO/Handicapped-accessible employer, committed to diversity in the workforce and regards differences as assets.

AmeriCorps

Make a difference by becoming a member of AmeriCorps and being placed at Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS)

AmeriCorps members will serve as legal assistants under the direct supervision of an experienced GBLS legal professional, many of whom are considered national experts in their respective areas of poverty law.Their responsibilities may involve provision of advice, referrals, brief service, and direct representation of clients at administrative hearings; participation in community education and outreach activities, as well as other related work.

Terms/Benefits: Members making a one year service commitment, and who complete their 1,700 hour service commitment will receive: $21,500 taxable yearly living allowance (paid bi-weekly); a $5,815 education award (payable on completion of the service term); health insurance; day care assistance, if eligible; hands-on supervised exposure to the practice of law and the ability to place eligible student loans in forbearance with interest paid upon completion of service.
 
Eligibility/Qualifications: Members must be at least 18 years of age, be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S. In addition, candidates must be college graduates with an interest in attending law school, attending law school at night, or a law school graduate with an interest in public service law. Proficiency in a non-English language desirable. Education Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree, JD’s encouraged to apply. Training will be provided.
 
Sponsorship: The AmeriCorps placements at GBLS are part of the Legal Assistance for Self-Sufficiency Program, run under the auspices of the South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.The program is funded through the Corporation for National Community and Service, and administered through the Massachusetts Service Alliance. 

GBLS is an AA/EO/Handicapped accessible employer, committed to diversity in the workforce and regards differences as assets.

GBLS will begin accepting applications March 2018. 

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Fellowships

Greater Boston Legal Services, Inc. (GBLS) will sponsor a limited number of applicants for two national fellowship programs: Equal Justice Works and the Skadden Fellowship Program. Both programs require applicants to develop a proposed project with a sponsoring legal agency. Selections for the fellowships are made by the national programs and not by GBLS. Because of the time needed to develop projects acceptable to GBLS and the applicants, interested persons should contact GBLS as soon as possible. Earlier applicants will have an advantage.

GBLS is the oldest and largest legal services program in New England. Throughout its history, GBLS has been committed to providing aggressive high-quality civil legal services to as many poor people as possible. The people who seek our assistance most often are women and children who need protection from abuse; families and elderly who face eviction from their homes; the homeless who have been denied temporary or permanent shelter; and single parents who have been inappropriately refused welfare, food stamps, or medical benefits. GBLS also provides assistance to client groups such as the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and the tenants of the Boston Housing Authority.  
 
GBLS' main office, located at 197 Friend Street in downtown Boston, houses the administrative staff and the following specialized units: Family, Elderly, Health & Disability, Mass. Medicare Advocacy Project, Housing, Immigration, Harvard Immigration Clinic, Employment, CORI & Re-entry Project, Welfare, Asian Outreach and Consumer Rights. GBLS’ Cambridge office consists of advocate teams comprised of Family, Housing, Elder, Income, Mental Health & Disability Rights.

GBLS is an AA/EO/Handicap-accessible employer, committed to diversity in the workforce and regards differences as assets.  Interested individuals must submit a cover letter and resume to Sonia Marquez, Director of Human Resources by email at jobs@gbls.org with the subject line “Fellowship opportunities”.  Please include in your cover letter a proposed project and indicate unit of interest. For more information contact: Ms. Marquez, at (617) 603-1805.

Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program

The goals of the Equal Justice Works Fellowship Program are to serve under represented communities; create new public interest law positions; select a diverse group of highly qualified fellows; and develop future leaders in public interest law.

Terms: Salary provided for two full years, loan repayment assistance, national training programs; fringe benefits to be paid by GBLS.

Eligibility: Must be a third-year law student, a recent graduate from an Equal Justice Works law school or an experienced attorney who is committed to public interest law.  Please check the website: www.equaljusticeworks.org for a list of current law school members.

Application procedure: The application and instructions are available online at www.equaljusticeworks.org. In addition to submitting an application and other related information, applicants should develop, in conjunction with GBLS, a new project to benefit under represented communities. Applications must be submitted online through the Equal Justice Works website at www.equaljusticeworks.org.  Hard copies or email copies of the application will not be accepted.

Application and Selection Timetable:

GBLS deadline: July 17, 2017
EJW Application deadline: September 27, 2017
Interviews Begin for Selected Candidates November 2017*
Interviews continued; fellowships are offered on a rolling basis December 2017 - April 2018
Fellows commence work: September 2018*

*date to be determined

For more information on the EJW Fellowship Program please go to www.equaljusticeworks.org.

Skadden Fellowship Program

The goal of the Skadden Fellowship Program is to provide support to 2018 law school graduates and outgoing judicial law clerks who want to work at an organization that provides civil legal services to the poor, including the homeless, the elderly, the disabled, or those deprived of their civil or human rights.

Terms: Salary and fringe benefits provided for two full years.

Eligibility: 2018 law school graduates or outgoing law clerks who are not receiving any other fellowship or prize monies for the Skadden Fellowship duration are eligible. The worthiness of the proposed project's goals as well as the applicant's competency, character, and commitment will be considered by the grant making panel.

Application procedure: Applicants should submit an application, a proposed project, and additional information in conjunction with GBLS, the sponsoring organization.  Applications can be found online at www.skaddenfellowships.org.

Application and Selection Timetable:

GBLS deadline:     July 17, 2017
Application deadline:  September 18, 2017
Finalists notified: November 17, 2017
Fellows commence work: September 2018*

*date to be determined

For more information on the Skadden Fellowship Program, please go to www.skadden.com

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