Volunteer Opportunity: Shelter Legal Services

Shelter Legal Services (“SLS”) offers many different opportunities for law students, including first year students, to gain legal experience working directly with low income clients. We offer several legal clinics on-site at homeless shelters and service centers in the Boston area. By providing services on-site, SLS reaches underserved individuals who may otherwise not receive the legal help they need.

SLS clinics also provide unique opportunities for law students to gain valuable experience in a variety of fields. We take many different types of cases, including consumer debt, housing, family law, veterans’ benefits, and Social Security. We encourage our student volunteers to expand their experience into new areas of law under the guidance and supervision of our attorneys. Each clinic is unique and provides a variety of volunteer opportunities on-site at the following facilities:

Rosie's Place
889 Harrison Avenue, Roxbury, Mondays, 5:00-8:00pm (arrive 4:45pm)
(Homeless and low income women)

Cambridge Multi-Service Center for the Homeless
19 Brookline Street, Central Square, Tuesdays, 8:30-11:30am (arrive 8:25am)
(Homeless individuals)

New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans
17 Court Street, Government Center, Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00pm (arrive 5:45pm)
(Veterans)

Chelsea Soldiers’ Home
91 Crest Avenue, Chelsea, Mondays 10:30am- 2:00pm (arrive 10:25am)
(Veterans)

Veterans Advocacy Network (telephone intake only)
Massachusetts Bar Association
20 West Street, Boston, Mondays 3:00pm – 5:00pm (arrive 2:45pm)
(Veterans)

If you are interested in volunteering, you must attend a SLS orientation, which will take place on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 from 6-8PM at the BU School of Law Barristers Hall. Food and material will be provided and all class years and divisions are welcome!

If you are interested in attending and volunteering this summer, please RSVP by 5:00pm on Tuesday, June 21th to ShelterLegalTraining@gmail.com

Already attended a training and haven’t yet volunteered? Email ShelterLegalTraining@gmail.com with your availability. Indicate “Previously Trained Volunteer” as the subject.