The Detroit Justice Center seeks passionate legal externs to join our team. DJC is founded on the belief that we cannot build cities that work for everyone without remedying the impacts of mass incarceration and transforming our justice system. This mission requires innovative ways of community lawyering—rooted in defensive and offensive fights for racial justice and economic equity—that build up our poorest residents through direct services and novel approaches to land use, housing, and employment.
Legal externs will work on cases in our Legal Services Practice (removing legal barriers our clients face such as warrants, suspended licenses, and tickets) and Economic Equity Practice (providing transactional legal services to community partners working on land trusts and affordable housing). They will also work on advocacy and capacity building initiatives. Externs will experience the unique opportunity of working at a legal start-up utilizing a community lawyering approach in one of the most dynamic cities in the U.S.
EXTERN QUALIFICATIONS
Second-year or third-year law student
Excellent legal research and communication skills
Experience in and/or a demonstrated commitment to social justice organizing and social movements
Familiarity with issues of racial justice, criminal justice, civil and human rights
Enthusiasm for working at an organization in its start-up phase
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS