AmeriCorps Opportunities (Boston, MA)

AmeriCorps Opportunities

GBLS is the primary provider of free non-criminal legal assistance in the Greater Boston area assisting low-income individuals families and community-based organizations with a wide range of poverty law matters. Our staff work in the following specialized units to best address the problems faced by the people in our service area living in poverty Asian Outreach Elder Health and Disability Employment Family Consumer Rights Housing Immigration Welfare the Mass. Medicare Advocacy Project and Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) & Re-entry Project. In addition our Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services Office (CASLS) offers legal assistance in a number of these areas to residents of Cambridge Somerville and surrounding towns. Placements are available in the Consumer Unit Welfare Unit Employment Unit and Cambridge and Somerville Office. 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 26 000 taxable yearly living allowance (paid bi-weekly) a 6 095 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 17 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. Interested individuals must complete and submit an application online at s www.ala-mass.org how-to-apply. A cover letter resume and the signed application should be submitted to Sonia Marquez Director of Human Resources by email at jobs(at)gbls.org. Please use job code AmeriCorps when applying. Cover letter should indicate unit of interest. For more information please contact Ms. Marquez at (617) 603-1805. GBLS is an AA EO accessible employer committed to diversity in the workforce and regards differences as assets.