Deadline this Friday for WTLS' Summer Clerk Applications

West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) is hosting a law student sponsored by Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps to focus on assisting elderly victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The law student selected will be housed at WTLS’ Jackson, Tennessee office. Per Equal Justice Works/AmeriCorps guidelines, the law students must provide 300 hours, or approximately 8 weeks, of service.

This opportunity is through the Rural Summer Legal Fellow program. You can find information about the opportunities offered at selected host organizations throughout the country, including North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Inc. and West Tennessee Legal Services at a https://rurallegalcorps.org/ . Applications are submitted on-line and then vetted by EJW with selected applications then sent to the host organizations to interview candidates and offer positions. However, if the TALS member knows a specific applicant they would recommend, they can contact me and I will make sure that recommended applicant is included in the vetted applications sent to WTLS. This summer clerkship comes with a $5000 stipend. There is a small window of opportunity for applying – the deadline for applications is February 17, 2017.

Description:

The Equal Justice Works Elder Justice law student will:

Provide legal assistance to older adult victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Participate in existing and expand collaboration with community leaders, law enforcement, and other agencies serving the elderly to recognize and prevent elder abuse.
Conduct outreach to other service agencies and to vulnerable elders.
Assist attorneys with legal research, drafting briefs, and intake screenings for older adult victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Participate in caregiver, nursing home/assisted living, law enforcement and legal provider education to recognize and prevent elder abuse.
Provide information on how to recognize and prevent elder abuse, rights and resources for senior citizens in community-based settings.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidates will:

Have the ability to undergo and pass AmeriCorps-mandated criminal background checks and an on-line background check with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)
Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States
Have less than four terms of AmeriCorps service
Have a demonstrated commitment to public interest work and strong desire to assist indigent clients
Have strong writing, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
Have the ability work collaboratively in a variety of contexts
Have a valid driver’s license
Have the ability to begin the fellowship no later than June 1, 2017.
Those with experience regarding elder law issues are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation:

This is an uncompensated position. Students can earn a $1,230 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for dedicating their 300 hours of service. Interested applicants should contact Catherine Clayton at cbclayton@wtls.org with any follow up questions. To be eligible for the position, the law student has to attend an Equal Justice Works law school. A list of member schools can be found at http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/law-school/membership/law-school-members

Application Instructions:

Interested candidates should email a letter of interest and resume no later than 12pm Central on February 17, 2017 to Sandra Bingham at Sandy@wtls.org with the subject line: AmeriCorps JD Program – [Your Last Name]. The letter of interest should clearly refer to the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD Program position. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted.

West Tennessee Legal Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status.

About WTLS:

For over 30 years, WTLS has provided access to justice for low-income vulnerable people in a 17-county, mostly rural area of West Tennessee with civil legal problems affecting basic needs for food security, shelter, medical care, income security, special education and freedom from abuse. The law students will work with the Elder Justice AmeriCorps Fellow within the framework of WTLS’ Senior Citizens Law Project (SCLP). SCLP (est.1981) provides legal help to those age 60 and older with a focus on the most vulnerable, especially those at risk or who have been victims of elder abuse, including financial exploitation/identity theft, mental abuse, physical abuse, and/or self-neglect. SCLP collaborates with other WTLS attorneys and paralegals in all areas of service provided by WTLS, as well as with community partners, to identify and address the multiple risks and needs of vulnerable senior citizens to preserve their dignity and to protect them from exploitation, neglect, and/or physical/mental abuse.

Last updated on February 14, 2017.