JusticeCorps offers 2 types of AmeriCorps member positions: Minimum-Time (300 hours of service) and Full-Time (1,700 hours of service). Minimum-time members normally serve one 8-hour shift per week or two 4-hour shifts at a self-help center while full-time members serve for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.

All three regions—Los Angeles, Bay Area, and San Diego—run the program year according to the academic calendar. The majority of Minimum-Time members serve from September to May and Full-Time members are expected to commit to a 12-month term.

All members are eligible for a Federally funded education award (“Ed Award”) upon successful completion of their service year. Currently, minimum time members receive an Ed Award ranging from $1,300-$1,700. The Ed Award for full time members ranges from $5,500-$6,000.

Full-Time JusticeCorps members receive also receive a $20,000 living allowance throughout the service year. (Minimum-Time members do not receive a living allowance.)

Minimum-time members:

• Assist self-represented litigants in court-based self-help centers by providing legal information to litigants regarding family law, housing, civil harassment temporary restraining orders and name changes
• Assist litigants in completion of family law, housing law, civil harassment temporary restraining orders, name changes and other pending legal forms
• Participate in at least one of two annual Days of Service
• Attend mandatory trainings and other Member Development opportunities

Full-time members:

• Assist self-represented litigants in court-based self-help centers by providing legal information to litigants regarding family law, housing, civil harassment temporary restraining orders and name changes
• Conduct workshops for litigants on various areas of law
• Work closely with site supervisors and university representatives to support 300-hour members
• Provide information and resources on best practices to 300-hour members
• Serve as a role model and to providing on-the-spot assistance to 300-hour members
• Recruit volunteers for service opportunities in other court based programs
• Facilitate trainings for 300-hour members
• Coordinate member service schedules and schedule requests
• Conduct outreach to justice system and community partners
• Develop brochures and other publications
• Take on other duties as assigned

In addition to serving in the self-help centers members must participate in at least one of two annual AmeriCorps Days of Service, which are coordinated to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Cesar Chavez Day. In addition to other special community service projects focused on the courts and legal access, these statewide service days give members an opportunity to support the community they serve in other ways. Projects in the past have included beautification of shared city spaces, marches, and rehabilitation of schools or parks through painting murals and planting gardens. Time spent participating in service days is counted towards member service hours.

Bilingual members

JusticeCorps now offers special training for our many bilingual members. With the support of a State Justice Institute grant, program staff and consultants created a full-day curriculum and a companion on-line course that covers cultural competencies, the difference between in-courtroom interpretation by certified professionals versus language assistance in a self-help center, provides language tools and resources and offers opportunity to role play and practice translation. Self-help center service is fast-paced, high-responsibility work, especially for those members helping litigants in a second language. The new training, first offered to members in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego in the spring of 2013, proved an invaluable opportunity for members to strengthen their skills and gain easy access to the resources they need. Based on the success of the pilot, the training will now be provided annually.