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Opportunities in Jacksonville

The Jacksonville office of Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (TRLS) is a free, civil legal assistance program that serves low-income residents of Duval and 16 other counties in North Florida.

TRLS' volunteer legal programs allow Florida Coastal School of Law students to gain valuable experience and assist clients in various areas of law. TRLS will be utilizing volunteer law students in three areas during the Fall 2008 semester:

  • Clinics
  • Community Outreach Presentations
  • Volunteer Research

Clinics

  • Pro Se Divorce - Volunteers will assist domestic violence victims and low income clients with the completion of necessary documents for the filing of dissolution of marriage (divorce) petitions and related child support actions. The pro se divorce clinics will be offered for a morning ('A') and evening session ('B').
  • Sealing and Expungement - Volunteers will explain the eligibility criteria and procedures for the sealing and expungement of records. Volunteers will also assist clients with the completion of the application to have their records sealed or expunged.

For more information on these clinics, see our calendar.

Community Outreach Presentations

  • Landlord/Tenant - Presentation of issues and resources regarding tenant?s rights and landlord/tenant dispute resolution
  • Foreclosure - Presentation of information and resources concerning foreclosure prevention, defense, and unfair mortgage practices
  • Student Designed - Volunteers will explore the needs of the community and learn substantive law concerning the identified areas of law. Based on student interest and surveyed needs; students will prepare a presentation to educate identified groups about their legal rights, options, and available community resources. Students may choose from a wide variety of public interest law topics such as special education, consumer rights, and elder law

Research Assignments

Students will perform legal research and writing for TRLS attorneys on a wide variety of issues. Training topics and dates will be based on student availability.

For more information about the Three Rivers Clinics and other volunteer opportunities, please contact jaxvolunteer@trls.org.

Registration Details

  • Eligibility - To participate, student volunteers must be in at least their second semester of law school.
  • Requirements - Attendance at all program sessions is greatly appreciated, but not required provided that prior arrangements are made with the supervising attorneys.
  • Training - Sessions will be held at the offices of TRLS in Jacksonville.

To apply, please e-mail your name, mailing address, year & semester in law school, phone number, languages spoken and program preference to jaxvolunteer@trls.org.

About Our Student Program

Three Rivers Legal Services utilizes Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Attorneys to recruit, train, and supervise law student volunteers to provide limited and brief legal assistance to low income persons in the 17 county service area. Volunteer opportunities are available in the Gainesville and Jacksonville offices.

We work through The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Program which was created in 2003 to improve access to justice by increasing the availability of pro bono legal services. The Program is supported by an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and works in conjunction with Legal Aid organizations nationwide. To learn more about Equal Justice Works post-graduate fellowship programs, visit Equal Justice Works.