Intern &Volunteer Opportunity: Court Service Center, Massachusetts Trial Court This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is dynamic, self-starting and interested in learning about access to justice issues in the court system. You will be part of a new program called the Court Service Center that seeks to provide comprehensive legal assistance and access to resources for self-represented litigants (litigants without attorneys) at multi-department courthouses throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Court Service Centers have been established in Boston, Brockton, Greenfield, Lawrence, Springfield, and Worcester. This is a unique opportunity to be involved in the development of a program that will change the way that the court system interacts with self-represented litigants.
You will learn about:
· Common legal issues faced by self-represented litigants
· Major court departments and their jurisdictions
· Access to justice issues
· Social service resources
· Interviewing and triage skills
Duties may include (but are not limited to) the following:
· Greeting litigants and explaining available services
· Referring litigants to other departments or offices
· Interviewing litigants about their needs
· Assisting litigants with legal paperwork
· Researching area resources
· Drafting court documents
· Developing plain-language self-help information for litigants
Qualifications:
· Committed to working scheduled hours
· Reliable and attentive to detail, able to multi-task
· Able to both work independently and take direction
· Experience or interest in customer service
· Experience or interest in communicating with people of diverse backgrounds
· Able to remain calm under pressure
· Committed to learning and retaining information about legal processes, the court system, and available resources.
· Oral fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese, or other languages preferred but not required.
Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter addressing the following questions to Ruth Adeyinka at: Ruth.adeyinka@jud.state.ma.us
“What interests you about working at a Court Service Center? What experience (paid, volunteer or extracurricular) have you had that might prepare you for this position?”
What is your availability? (e.g.,Tuesday & Wednesday all day)
For more information about Court Service Centers, visit www.mass.gov/courts/court-service-centers. This is an unpaid position. All volunteers must complete a CORI check and be eligible to work in the United States.