Description:

The goal of the Education Defense Pro Bono Project is to to ensure that San Mateo County youth entering the juvenile justice system have their educational needs identified and met, and the project aims to improve both their educational outcomes and the outcomes of their juvenile cases.

Volunteers with the Education Defense Pro Bono Project will have three primary responsibilities: (1) Make a monthly trip to Hillcrest Juvenile Detention Center with three other volunteers to meet and talk with any students who have been recently admitted and share with them a “Know Your Rights” guide to ensure that they are aware of their educational rights as students; (2) Conduct individual screenings with young people at Hillcrest to explore their educational history; and (3) Follow up with the student when they are released from the hall to speak with them about their educational experience and ensure that they are able to reenroll in school as usual.

Commitment Required of Members:

We expect that each member will work between 5 and 10 hours each month. Work will mostly involve reading over student records and engaging with clients to discuss their cases.

Open Membership Spots: 16

Adv. Degree Student Participation: Permitted

Winter Start: Not Permitted; Fall Start Required

Language Ability Preference: Any additional language abilities, such as Spanish, may be helpful for client interactions, but are not required.

Eligible for Meeting NYS Bar Pro Bono Requirement: Likely

Trauma-Informed Training: Mandatory

Project Leaders: Jeevan Kirkland, RJ Kelly,
Erzsabet Gonzalez & Sarah Zhang