Attorneys and Pro Bono
Attorneys provide invaluable pro bono services to our clients every day. Without the continuous support of our pro bono partners, we would not be able to serve many survivors in dire need of legal assistance and representation. The Survivor Justice Center’s current pro bono opportunities include:
- Representing domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking survivors at hearings to establish or renew Restraining Orders.
- Reviewing already-completed domestic violence restraining order applications through our California Legal Access for Survivors Partnership (CLASP) Project
- Representing survivors through our Clinic+ opportunity to apply for Adjustment of Status (Legal Permanent Residence) after they were previously granted a U visa, T visa, or SIJS
- Representing survivors in Vacatur motions to vacate convictions related to their victimization
- Representing immigrant survivors in various immigration cases including applications for U visas, T Visas, VAWA, and SIJS or in removal proceedings
- Representing survivors in family law or immigration Appeals or Motions to Reopen
- Providing counsel and advice or limited legal assistance is specialized areas of law
- Other opportunities may arise on case-by-case basis depending on client needs
Survivor Justice Center attorneys provide training and ongoing support and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys who take a case with us, and we have resources, toolkits, templates, and other materials available to assist pro bono attorneys with representation. Pro bono cases also have the benefit of our integrated service model, so a social worker or MSW student will be assigned to support clients with emotional support, connection to resources, and other supportive services throughout the pro bono representation.
The Survivor Justice Center also encourages our pro bono volunteers representing survivors at their restraining order hearings to visit the Pro Bono Training Institute (link opens in new tab) and view their excellent on demand video trainings on Domestic Violence Restraining Order Requests, VAWA Self-Petitions, Adjustments of Status, and Cultural Competency. These videos are free but you do have to create a login to access the training curriculum. Once you’re logged in, click on Training and look for the course “Domestic Violence Restraining Order Requests”. CLE credit is available!
To take a pro bono case with us, request a training for your firm, sign up for our Pro Bono Newsletter, or for more information about pro bono opportunities at the Survivor Justice Center, please complete our Volunteer Application Form or contact us at probono@SurvivorJusticeCenter.org.
Implement a new project through an Equal Justice Works, Skadden, school-sponsored, or other fellowship program! Fellowships provide a great opportunity for new public interest attorneys to work on issues they care about and gain the skills they need to be strong, effective advocates. The Survivor Justice Center has experience hosting past fellows and is interested in developing fellowship projects that enhance and complement the Center’s existing practice areas. The Survivor Justice Center will work with promising candidates to support your project proposal prior to the application process. Applicants who would like to partner with the Center as their host organization should contact the Center at least three months before the fellowship application is due to discuss project ideas and feasibility.
The Survivor Justice Center has particular interest in fellowship project proposals in the following areas:
- Building a practice and pro bono project around Vacatur and Post-Conviction relief for survivors with criminal convictions related to their abuse or trafficking.
- The intersection between the family and dependency court systems and how survivors of domestic violence interact with those intersecting systems.
- Addressing technology-enabled abuse in the context of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
To apply, complete our Volunteer Application Form and email the following application materials to volunteer@Survivor Justice Center.org:
- Cover letter briefly explaining project ideas, areas of interest and why the applicant cares about public interest work.
- Resume describing any language abilities and experience working with survivors and/or low-income populations.
If you would like more information about fellowship opportunities at the Survivor Justice Center, please contact us at volunteer@SurvivorJusticeCenter.org.
Law Students
Every summer, Survivor Justice Center hosts law students who receive hands-on experience in the practice of public interest law serving low-income families in Los Angeles. Survivor Justice Center’s Summer Clerk Program lasts 10 weeks and is designed to introduce each student to the areas of law that Survivor Justice Center practices, including immigration and family law. Law clerks work under the direct supervision of staff attorneys on intake as well as on assigned projects, and have an opportunity to:
- Analyze and assess individual clients’ needs
- Participate in direct communication with clients
- Review each case with a staff attorney to determine what assistance is needed
- Prepare pleadings, applications, memoranda and other written materials
- Attend and participate in legal and community trainings
- Assist in the development of resource materials for clients
- Conduct legal research
- Assist in representation of clients at hearings and trial
If you would like more information about our Summer Clerk Program, please contact us at volunteer@Survivor Justice Center.org
To apply for Survivor Justice Center’s Summer Clerk Program, please click here (volunteer form)
MSW Students
Survivor Justice Center provides exceptional MSW students from nationally recognized programs with 2nd year field placements as Community Advocates. Within their role as Community Advocates, MSW interns work alongside attorneys and advocates to provide holistic services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault within a legal setting. Community Advocates serve our diverse clientele with client-centered supportive services such as court accompaniment, safety planning, information and navigation assistance, crisis management planning, skills building and linkages to other service providers.
Community Advocate Summer Internship Program
As part of our program, Survivor Justice Center offers full-time summer internships for: (1) MSW concentration–year students; and (2) recent MSW graduates interested in worked in a non-traditional social work setting. Interns receive trainings on trauma-informed services and best practices for working with survivors of interpersonal violence. Recent MSW graduates registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences would be eligible to receive supervised hours toward licensure.
If you would like more information about out Community Advocate Summer Internship Program, please contact volunteer@Survivor Justice Center.org.
Corporate Volunteers
Company volunteer opportunities include organizing Court Wellness Kits, Care Packages Drives, Holiday Gift Drives and other activities. If your company is interested in volunteering, please contact development@SurvivorJusticeCenter.org. We would be happy to explore ideas that fit our clients’ needs and your employees’ interests.
To apply for company volunteering opportunities, click here. (volunteer form)