Volunteer Projects

AmeriCorps members reach out into the communities where they live and work to bring the energy of others to serve with them as volunteers. Following are projects that current members founded or advanced.

Low-Income Tax Clinic

This past month I began my volunteer activity by becoming the volunteer coordinator for a low-income tax clinic.  The clinic provides a great service for low-income people getting earned income tax credit by doing their taxes for free so that they can put their tax refunds to good use.  In order to provide this service, however, the clinic needs people in the area to donate some of their time to assist the tax preparers.  My job was to recruit and organize volunteers and make sure that all clinic dates have coverage.

While in some cases volunteer recruitment can be a tricky thing given everyone’s busy schedules, I am very lucky to be working with people who are very generous with their free time.  I am glad to be able to be a part of this project because, working in the housing unit, I have come to learn that in many non-payment eviction cases, tenants are relying on their tax refunds to be able to pay their rent.  If they had to pay for someone to do their taxes for them, it would make it even harder for them to catch up on their rent and utility payments.  It’s obvious that a simple service like having our taxes done can make a real difference in the life of someone who is struggling just to get by.

Working with the Private Bar

1. The last several months have been full of activity for me here at LACCM. I have continued to assist with the scheduling of pro-bono volunteers for Worcester Probate and Family Court’s Lawyer for the Day program. Since November I have spent an average of two or three hours a week scheduling volunteer attorneys to staff the program. Close to 100 attorneys have volunteered since I have been responsible for the scheduling (starting in November).

2. At the New Center for Legal Advocacy located in New Bedford and Plymouth, an important part of my project was recruiting new attorneys to expand the availability of pro bono representation for low-income clients in the area. After introducing myself to the area bar and its leaders, I organized a series of educational events. While there were no fees, attorneys attending these events pledged to provide pro bono services. I’ve listed some of these events.

• “Basic Utility Rights of Consumers” at the Southern New England School of Law - Attorney Charlie Harak of the National Consumer Law Center presented this training.
• “The Southeast Housing Court Seminar” - among the panelists was the Honorable Wilbur P. Edwards from the Housing Court Department, Southeast Division.
• “Nuts & Bolts” of Consumer Bankruptcy” - among the panelists was the Honorable William C. Hillman from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Boston.
• “Law Day” program at the Massachusetts Trial Court, District Court Department, New Bedford Division - this event was co-sponsored by the New Bedford Bar Association and featured a mock trial geared for young students at which the Honorable Bernadette L. Sabra, First Justice presided.
• “Pro Bono Recognition Reception” in Barnstable, MA at the Probate & Family Court Department, Barnstable Division - this event recognized attorneys who have contributed through voluntary efforts in the Lawyer of the Day Program and/or the Private Attorney Involvement Program of the New Center for Legal Advocacy in the Barnstable; the Honorables Robert E. Terry and Robert A. Scandurra presented the awards.
• “Pro Bono Recognition Reception” in Plymouth, Massachusetts at the Probate & Family Court Department, Plymouth Division - this event recognized attorneys who have contributed through voluntary efforts in the Lawyer of the Day Program and/or the Private Attorney Involvement Program of the New Center for Legal Advocacy; the Honorable Michael Livingstone presented the awards.
• “Nuts & Bolts” of Consumer Bankruptcy Law & Practice - this seminar gave an overall view of the bankruptcy laws with emphasis on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 with the new changes in the law; among the panelists was the Honorable Joan N. Feeney from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Boston.
• “Advocating for Children with Special Needs in Educational Settings” co-sponsored by Massachusetts Advocates for Children - this training provided an introduction to the practice in Special Education Law with emphasis on representation of children with special needs in school proceedings and also at the Bureau of Special Education Appeals.

Volunteers for Justice

In the month of February, I began working with a program of the Massachusetts Justice Project called “Volunteers for Justice.  VFJ trains volunteers to act as lay advocates for income-eligible tenants in danger of eviction in Housing Court.  These advocates spend every Thursday (the day that the court hears eviction cases) at the Housing Court advising tenants of their rights, possible defenses or counterclaims, and assisting them in mediation with their landlords.

Having spent nearly every Thursday since the beginning of my service at the Housing Court, I have come to learn how very little tenants actually know about their rights. I, myself, did not know much about landlord-tenant law before beginning this position.  For many people who end up at Housing Court on Thursday, an eviction would be disastrous. Having advocates available to assist them in making payment plans, negotiating for more time to find another place to live, or putting forward counterclaims, is an invaluable service for people at a very stressful time.

The main difficulty in recruiting volunteers so far has been that because a lot of time and resources must go into the training of volunteers. Legal aid has asked for a one-year commitment from volunteers.  I have focused mainly on seniors and college students. I have submitted ads for volunteers to several agencies and have met with a group of paralegal students at a local college.  I have also begun researching the possibility of beginning an internship program with the University of Massachusetts.