Overview

The Greenlining Legal Academy through its programs seeks to train law students to be skilled, ethical, and reform-minded professionals. In addition to learning practical legal skills such as interviewing, counseling, negotiating, writing and oral advocacy, students are urged to scrutinize the quality of justice for communities of color and low-income communities .

The Legal Academy utilizes clinical legal education methodology, by allowing the students to actively engage in legal work under the supervision of practicing attorneys , to teach the skills and values necessary to the ethical and competent practice of law. It will also afford students the opportunity to acquire the skills and build vital social networks that will enhance their effectiveness as future advocates of minority communities.

Background

The history and philosophy of the Greenlining Legal Academy is rooted in the organization's own legal advocacy, which is policy-focused and strives to protect and promote the interests of California 's vulnerable communities. Through its policy and legal advocacy Greenlining creates a dynamic which brings together diverse voices within California to overcome fragmentation of local advocacy, policy, and community organizing efforts. Central to the work of Greenlining is the “big picture” recognition of the interrelatedness of issues to its constituency. It is this recognition that pushes Greenlining to aim for nothing less than a paradigm shift across California 's movements for justice.

Opportunities

Summer Legal Associates

10-week program

Stipend: $1600 per month

Commuting Stipend: $150 per month

Qualifications

Greenlining seeks talented, self-motivated individuals committed to equality and justice. Legal Academy associates generally have the following traits:

A demonstrated commitment to public interest lawyering and social justice

Strong academic credentials
Strong research and communications skills
Ability to multi-task
Ability to work well with diverse groups
Strong personal initiative and motivation
Meaningful involvement in school, the workplace or community
Open to new ideas

Legal Academy associates are carefully selected to represent Greenlining's constituency in terms of age, education, work and volunteer experience, political perspective, and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

For more information on the Legal Academy and its programs, please read our fact sheet or contact: mailto:academy@greenlining.org.

To view what the Greenlining Institute is working on with regard to its legal advocacy click here .