Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic

DEADLINE: March 15th, 2010

The Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic provides pro bono legal reprsentation in civil matters and legal education to low-income neighbors in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. It has volunteer opportunities for law students, both during the summer and throughout the school year and is currently recruiting for its summer associate program. You'll find more information on the program and how to apply at http://www.nclegalclinic.org/

2010 AmeriCorps*VISTA SUMMER ASSOCIATE PROGRAM

The Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic is seeking applicants for eleven law student AmeriCorps*VISTA summer associate positions. Applications are being accepted until March 15, 2010. Click here or scroll to the bottom for the program overview & benefits.

Thank you for expressing an interest in serving at the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Summer Associate. Interested applicants must submit an application online at the AmeriCorps*VISTA website. If you have any questions about the positions or the AmeriCorps*VISTA program, please contact NCLC Executive Director Josh Abel (jabel@nclegalclinic.org),Volunteer Coordinator Angela Pandoli (apandoli@nclegalclinic.org), or call the front office at (317) 429-4131.

You can apply for up to two different positions. If you submit applications for more than two positions, we will ask you to withdraw the extra applications.

Law Student Summer Associate Positions

NCLC is seeking law student VISTA Summer Associate members for the summer of 2010 in the following areas:

Immigration Summer Associate (5 Positions)

Immigration is NCLC’s largest practice area, serving clients in a variety of immigration needs, including asylum, adjustment of status, U-Visa, and VAWA. Many of our immigration clients are in crisis, fleeing persecution from their home country, trying to break free from a domestic violence situation, or having been the victim of a violent crime.

The Immigration Summer Associates will work directly with NCLC’s immigration attorneys, and the summer associates will assist the attorneys by interviewing clients, conducting legal research, and completing immigration forms. Because a large percentage of our immigration clients speak Spanish, preference will be given to those applicants who also speak Spanish.

Housing Law Summer Associate (2 Positions)

NCLC is a HUD-certified housing counseling agency, and we serve many clients who are facing foreclosure. NCLC has responded to the current foreclosure crisis by increasing the number of staff assisting on foreclosure related matters, developing relationships with other non-profit agencies serving individuals’ housing needs, and working with lenders to address clients’ mortgage issues in an effort to avoid foreclosure. In addition, NCLC will litigate claims involving predatory or other illegal lending practices.

The Housing Law Summer Associates will work directly with the NCLC’s housing attorney, and the summer associates will assist the attorney by interviewing clients, conducting legal research, reviewing mortgage documents, and preparing court pleadings.

Bankruptcy Summer Associate (2 Positions)

Many of NCLC’s clients need to file bankruptcy because they have unexpectedly lost a source of income (either through unemployment, divorce, or death of a spouse), or they were faced with a medical illness without proper health insurance. Filing a bankruptcy petition affords the client a fresh financial start.

The Bankruptcy Summer Associates will work directly with the NCLC bankruptcy attorney, and the summer associates will assist the attorney by interviewing clients, conducting legal research, preparing bankruptcy petitions, and attending bankruptcy hearings.

Family Law Summer Associate (1 Position)

Even though NCLC does not accept divorce cases, NCLC nevertheless assists in a variety of family law matters. The family law attorney is in court frequently, representing clients in cases including custody modification, child support, guardianship, and adoption.

The Family Law Summer Associate will work directly with the NCLC family law attorney, and the summer associate will assist the attorney by interviewing clients, conducting legal research, preparing court pleadings, and attending court hearings. In addition, if the law student is eligible to become a certified legal intern, then the summer associate may represent clients in court, under the supervision of the staff attorney.

Tax Law Summer Associate (1 Position)

NCLC is a recognized Low Income Taxpayer Clinic by the Internal Revenue Service. We provide legal representation for clients in tax controversies with the IRS. We are often successful in saving our clients thousands of dollars in assessed penalties and fines.

The Tax Law Summer Associate will work directly with the NCLC tax attorney, and the summer associate will assist the attorney by interviewing clients, conducting legal research, and reviewing tax documents.

Overview of the Indiana AmeriCorps*VISTA Program

AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) is a national service program dedicated to eliminating poverty by helping individuals and low-income neighborhoods make positive changes for themselves. Through VISTA, ordinary people provide extraordinary service in organizations and agencies to create and expand programs and to build permanent infrastructure that ultimately bring low-income individuals out of poverty.

The Indiana VISTA program seeks the highest-caliber candidates for national service. Indiana offers competitive and high-quality professional level opportunities in national and local non-profits, faith based and other community agencies across the state. VISTA service is not a job, but rather professional volunteer service that can help prepare you for a future in the public, non-profit or governmental sectors. VISTA will enable you to practice citizenship at its highest level, by serving other Americans.

The VISTA Summer Associate program requires members to make a full-time (40 hours per week) ten-week commitment. All Summer Associates must begin their service on June 1, 2010 and conclude on August 6, 2010 (unfortunately, no exceptions can be made). Compensation is provided in the form of the VISTA subsistence allowance (it is not a wage); it is congressionally authorized at $398.16 bi-weekly, paid through direct deposit and is taxable. VISTA members are prohibited from engaging in outside employment during the course of their term or service.

Members who complete a successful term of service may elect to receive either a $1,000 education award or a $200 cash stipend. The educational award is in the form of an educational voucher provided upon the completion of the 10-week term. It is applicable towards qualified federal student loans and future education expenses. It is valid for up to ten years.

Americorps*VISTA provides service opportunities to individuals 18 and older without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disabliity, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other non merit factor.