JusticeCorps is dedicated to increasing access within California’s legal system by offering support to the thousands of individuals representing themselves in civil cases each year. We train undergraduates and recent graduates to provide direct service and neutral assistance (not legal advice) to self-represented litigants in one of the many court-based self-help centers across the state. JusticeCorps members serve under the supervision of attorneys to offer essential support for those navigating the court system on their own, by providing one-on-one support and assisting with workshops. JusticeCorps members empower litigants to understand their options, to have their voices heard, and to confidently move forward with their legal matter.
What You’ll Do in JusticeCorps
- Work directly with litigants: All JusticeCorps members receive training in a variety of legal areas so they can offer essential support to those representing themselves by helping litigants complete legal forms, assisting with community legal education workshops, providing referrals, and listening to people’s stories.
- Learn from attorneys: JusticeCorps members serve in courts around California and work under the guidance of self-help center attorneys to support the public. Attorneys provide supervision, mentorship, and feedback. At the end of every service shift, attorneys run a case review with JusticeCorps members to review the details of the day’s cases so they can go over the experience with the litigants served that day.
- Develop Professional Skills: JusticeCorps offers a unique experience to learn about the law from within a courthouse. In addition to gaining deep legal training and customer service skills, workshops and experiences are curated so JusticeCorps members can grow their professional skills outside of the self-help centers. These include visits to law schools, resume workshops, self-care and financial literacy sessions, and others!
- Promote access to justice: At the center of JusticeCorps is providing greater access to navigating California’s court and legal systems. By offering these direct services to members of the public, JusticeCorps helps thousands of people gain greater understanding of their cases and ability to navigate the legal system with more certainty.
- Participate in National Service: JusticeCorps members are AmeriCorps members. JusticeCorps is a program of the California Courts, administered by CaliforniaVolunteers and sponsored by AmeriCorps, a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. As a JusticeCorps member you’ll join a cohort of nearly 300 active members and 5,000+ alumni dedicated to increasing access to justice throughout California.
JusticeCorps Service Opportunities
JusticeCorps members serve a 300-hour or 1,700-hour AmeriCorps term of service. 300-hour Legal Access Interns are students enrolled at one of JusticeCorps' partner campuses, and complete their service over one academic year. JusticeCorps Graduate Fellows are full-time AmeriCorps members, who complete their term of service over 12 months.
JusticeCorps Legal Access Interns (300-hr AmeriCorps Members)
Legal Access Interns (LAI’s) are undergraduate students enrolled at JusticeCorps partner campuses in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and San Diego. Legal Access Interns come from a variety of majors and are trained to provide legal education to litigants by assisting in leading community workshops or providing one-on-one services.
LAI Minimum Eligibility: In addition to meeting AmeriCorps eligibility requirements, LAI applicants must be an undergraduate student enrolled during the entire 2026-2027 academic year at one of JusticeCorps’ participating partner campuses.
LAI Service Commitment: LAI’s must complete 300 hours of service beginning September 2026 and concluding as early as May 2027. JusticeCorps LAI members are expected to serve 6-8 hours per week, primarily during the academic year.
Los Angeles JusticeCorps also offers a 300-hr summer program, during which Legal Access Interns serve full-time while school is not in session.
Los Angeles Summer LAI Minimum Eligibility: In addition to meeting AmeriCorps eligibility requirements, LAI applicants must be an undergraduate student. Summer Legal Access Interns are not required to attend a JusticeCorps partner campus.
Los Angeles Summer LAI Service Commitment: Summer LAI’s must complete 300 hours of service beginning June 2026 and concluding August 2026. Summer LAI members serve 5 days a week during their 8-10-week term.
JusticeCorps Graduate Fellows (1,700-hr AmeriCorps Members)
JusticeCorps Graduate Fellows commit to a Full-Time AmeriCorps term—1,700 hours served over 12 months, 5 days a week—and receive a number of benefits in exchange. Fellows may lead legal education workshops for the public and all Fellows provide direct one-on-one service to litigants seeking to represent themselves in court. In addition to providing self-represented litigants with information about procedures, options, and referrals to appropriate services, Fellows take a leadership role, and are mentors for the Legal Access Interns with whom they serve. JusticeCorps Fellows must be college graduates but do not have to be affiliated with a JusticeCorps partner campus.
Minimum Eligibility: In addition to meeting AmeriCorps eligibility requirements, Fellowship applicants must have received an undergraduate degree by August 15, 2026. Fellows are not required to be affiliated with a JusticeCorps partner campus.
Service Commitment: Fellows must complete 1,700 hours of service beginning August 2026 and concluding in August 2027.
JusticeCorps Graduate Fellow Benefits
JusticeCorps Graduate Fellows will receive the following benefits during their service term:
- $34,500 Living Allowance (before taxes) spread evenly over 12 months
- $10,000 combined Segal Education Award and California For All Education Award (upon completion of service)
- SNAP (Food Stamps) – for those eligible
- Health Insurance
- AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP)—wellness benefits including mental health support and life coaching
- Forbearance on existing qualifying student loans and payment of interest accrued during service
- Child care assistance to qualifying Fellows, paid to an eligible provider of your choice
Bay Area
Fellowship Application Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
LAI Application Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Bay Area service sites are located in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Solano, and San Mateo counties.
Bay Area Campus Partners • University of California at Berkeley • San Francisco State University • California State University East Bay • San Jose State University • Stanford University • Cañada College • College of San Mateo • Skyline College • Santa Clara University
Los Angeles
Fellowship Application Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Los Angeles LAI Application Deadlines
- CSU's and USC Priority Deadline: Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.
- UCLA Priority deadline: Monday, April 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.
- Summer 2026 LAI Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
Applications received by the priority deadline will be given priority consideration; however, applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.
Los Angeles service sites are located throughout the county, including Downtown Los Angeles, Chatsworth, Pomona, Pasadena, Compton, Long Beach, and Whittier.
Los Angeles Campus Partners • California State University at Dominguez Hills • California State University at Long Beach • California State University at Northridge • California State Polytechnic University Pomona • University of California at Los Angeles • University of Southern California
San Diego
Fellowship Application Deadline: Sunday, February 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
LAI Application Deadline: Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
San Diego service sites are located in North, East, South, and Downtown San Diego.
San Diego Campus Partners
• University of California at San Diego • San Diego State University • California State University, San Marcos