Root & Rebound is looking for law clerks to support their work in California, United States of America.
About Root & Rebound
R&R is a national reentry advocacy organization that provides know-your-rights education, direct legal services, policy reform and impact litigation to support formerly incarcerated people and people with convictions to navigate barriers to employment, housing, family reunification, obtaining ID, voting rights, financial stability, and more due to their record. Root & Rebound’s mission is to support people navigating reentry and reduce the harms perpetuated by mass incarceration.
About the opportunity
As a law clerk at R&R, students have the unique opportunity to work holistically on the issues of “reentry law”—directly supporting individuals who are navigating the 48,000 documented legal barriers related to their criminal record.
Unlike most legal externships, law students clerking at R&R learn about many areas of law– employment, civil rights, parole and probation, family, and many other substantive areas of legal practice as they impact justice-involved people.
Responsibilities
- Answer Reentry Legal Hotline calls and speak with currently and formerly incarcerated callers, about their reentry-related questions and issues every Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.;
- Attend legal clinics across northern California;
- Complete holistic legal intakes with clients at legal clinics;
- Provide ongoing legal services to hotline, clinic, and other clients;
- Create and update Know-Your-Rights factsheets on recurring legal issues;
- Perform case-specific legal research and writing;
- Draft advocacy letters, court filings, and other materials.
Qualifications
- Current law student or recent law school graduate.
- Desire to work with people with arrest and conviction histories, and on criminal justice issues in a dynamic legal environment.
- Demonstrated interest in racial justice and improving the lives of disenfranchised people and communities.
- Ability to comfortably and appropriately communicate with a diverse group of stakeholders including currently and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones, staff, community partners, board members, and others.
Currently all of the positions are hybrid or remote.
Application Instructions
To apply for a position, please email the following materials:
- Resume;
- Cover letter (please indicate for which office/projects you are interested in; and whether you are looking for a hybrid or remote position);
- Short sample of legal writing (4 pages max.); and
- At least 2 references with contact information and a description of how they know you.
