Cabrini Green Legal Aid
 
Volunteer Law Students
Overview

Law student volunteers are given the unique opportunity to experience the inner workings of a legal aid organization through first-hand exposure. Volunteering at CGLA complements the more formal education, providing hands-on experience and education that is impossible to get in a classroom. Our volunteer program is a great way to get involved in public interest law, understand its importance to the legal profession, and enhance job skills in the process.

If you are interested in volunteering with CGLA, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Katie Schermerhorn, at 312-266-1345 ext 424.

If you are a law student interested in an unpaid summer internship, contact Andy Dougherty at 312-266-1345 ext. 420 or by clicking here to send an email.

Volunteer Law Students
  • Intake Interviews
  • Expungement Help Desk
  • Clear Arrest and Conviction Records
  • Jail Intake Interviews
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    Intake Interviews
    Conducting intake interviews is one of the best ways to get to know CGLA, our practice, and our clients. CGLA sees clients with criminal, family, housing and expungement, sealing, & clemency cases. Intakes require that you come to the office to interview potential clients and return to present their cases at our weekly intake meeting. We conduct three intake sessions per week: two at CGLA's office and one at our south side satellite location, St. Sabina Church (near 79th and Racine).  Each session lasts approximately two hours and is scheduled between the hours of 9:30am and 4:00pm, Monday-Friday.  Volunteers return to the office on either Thursday or Friday afternoon (depending on case type) to present their cases at the weekly intake meeting, which also lasts approximately two hours. We will provide a manual that includes the types of issues you will face and questions to ask.
    • Training: Attorney/Law Student Intake Training. Observe three intake sessions.
    • Requirements: Attorney or law student with excellent interpersonal skills and exceptionally clear communication skills.
    • Suggested Commitment: After completing the training program, we ask volunteers to commit to completing a minimum of three intake sessions on their own, which can be scheduled at the volunteer’s convenience.

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    Expungement Help Desk
    Our Expungement Help Desk allows us to manage the large number of individuals seeking to have their records expunged and sealed in a more proactive and effective way. Volunteers help staff the desk, where they meet with clients, read their rap sheets, determine their eligibility for expungement, sealing, or clemency, and help them file the necessary paperwork. The desk is open Monday through Friday from 9am until noon, and is located at the Daley Center.
    • Training: Attorney/Law Student Expungement Help Desk Training.
    • Requirements: Attorney or law student with excellent interpersonal skills who displays patience and compassion when working with others.
    • Suggested Commitment: After completing the training program, we ask volunteers to commit to completing a minimum of three mornings working at the desk.

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    Clear Arrest and Conviction Records
    Our Expungement, Sealing & Clemency program helps eligible individuals get their records cleared through expungement and sealing. CGLA uses volunteers to research records and file expungement and sealing petitions at the Daley Center. We also help people who have old convictions and have made significant life changes prepare petitions for executive clemency. Preparing a clemency involves working directly with a client and is extremely rewarding. One advantage to this volunteer opportunity is that the majority of the work can be done on your own time.
    • Training: Clemency Training.
    • Requirements: Attorney or law student.
    • Suggested Commitment: A clemency petition typically requires 10-20 hours of work, under the guidance of CGLA’s criminal records attorney.

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    Jail Intake Interviews
    Conducting a jail intake involves coming to our office to pick up information on the potential client, traveling to either 26th & California or 11th and Hamilton (juvenile detention facility) where s/he is incarcerated, and conducting the interview at the facility. As with regular intakes, volunteers must come to our weekly intake meeting to present the case.
    • Training: Jail Intake Training. Observe someone experienced in conducting jail intakes. (Required – participation in regular intake procedure first.)
    • Requirements: Attorney licensed in the state of Illinois or Law Student with 7-11 license.
    • Suggested Commitment: Once trained, CGLA will contact volunteers as needed to go to the jail, which occurs approximately twice a month.

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    (C) 2005 Cabrini green Legal Aid Clinic * 206 W Division Street * Chicago, Illinois 60616 * Telephone 312-266-1345 * Fax 312-266-7417