Description:

The Economic Advancement Program (“EAP”) is a branch of Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (“CLSEPA”). EAP strives to help low-income community members maximize their earning potential and access opportunities for their families by protecting their income from wage theft, scams, or fraud and improving their chances for future employment. EAP prioritizes cases where it is difficult for clients to find or afford legal representation. EAP also prioritizes cases involving immigrant workers and the reentry population, who face barriers due to their criminal records.

Commitment Required of Members:

Students will be working on drafting declarations to expunge their client’s criminal records. This process includes interviewing the client, drafting their declaration, and making edits as requested, which sometimes requires additional interviewing. These students will work in pairs and will be assigned one client per quarter. Each student is expected to contribute roughly 8 hours per quarter, including participation in training.

Open Membership Spots: 6

Adv. Degree Student Participation: Permitted

Winter Start: Not Permitted; New volunteers will be required to start in the Fall Quarter.

Eligible for Meeting NYS Bar Pro Bono Requirement: Likely

Language Ability Preference: Spanish Language Skills Valued, But Not Required

Project Leaders: Emily Grose and Alex Kilroy