Serve Justice in Markham! Illinois JusticeCorps Program at the Markham Courthouse

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This opportunity is primarily for community college, university, and law students.

Illinois JusticeCorps is an innovative program that enhances access to justice for the growing number of unrepresented people in the courts by empowering and training student volunteers to help people without lawyers navigate the court system by providing legal information and procedural guidance.

Volunteer responsibilities may include:

• Assist self-represented litigants by providing legal information and connecting them to available legal aid resources
• Accompany people without lawyers around the courthouse to help them complete the necessary steps to move forward with their legal matters
• Provide self-help assistance to court-patrons, including helping them navigate online self-help resources such as Illinois Legal Aid Online.

Volunteers should:

• Be outgoing and willing to help strangers with problems
• Have a communication style that is clear and patient
• Be able to use active listening skills to understand what people need or want
• Be able to exhibit initiative in showing people how to solve problems
• Be responsible and dependable
• Have an interest in the legal and court system

The position requirements:

• 300-hour volunteer commitment
• Commitment to work approximately 30 hours per week in during weekday court hours at the Sixth Municipal District Courthouse (Markham, IL).
• Attend all required training sessions.
• Be willing to work with people who may be stressed, anxious and challenging
• Conscientiously gather and submit data needed for reports
• Non-English Language proficiency a plus

Benefits:

• Volunteers are members of AmeriCorps, a national network of service programs that recruit and train volunteers to meet critical community needs while they earn money for education.
• After completion of 300-hour commitment, volunteer will receive $1212 Education Award for education expenses or loan repayment.
• Great training, professional skills development, work experience and professional references