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Compassionate Release Collaborative (CRC)

The Compassionate Release Collaborative (CRC) is a new pro bono project that helps seriously ill inmates in Pennsylvania’s prisons file petitions for compassionate release.

 

What we do:

CRC’s process will be split into three stages: 1) intake, 2) legal representation, and 3) continued care. At the first stage, CRC screens potential clients and chooses to work with individuals whose cases seem appropriate for compassionate release. Second, CRC helps to collect the necessary paperwork and draft the compassionate release petition to be submitted on the client’s behalf. Finally, once compassionate release is granted, CRC works with the client’s loved ones to coordinate hospice care for the client upon release.

 

How we do it:

CRC partners with the Abolitionist Law Center (ALC), a public interest law firm and organizing project which provides free and low-cost legal services to individuals incarcerated in Pennsylvania. CRC volunteers may be asked to review potential clients’ intake information and draft memos assessing their appropriateness for compassionate release; correspond with selected clients to ensure the timely completion of necessary documents; and help draft compassionate release petitions under the supervision of ALC.

 

How and when can I join:

CRC is seeking interested collaborators and volunteers. To be placed on our mailing list, please email Tora Husar, thusar@penncareylaw.upenn.edu, Emma Needham, needhame@pennlaw.upenn.edu, and Sara Schuster saraschu@penncareylaw.upenn.edu.

 

What skills will I develop:

Criminal justice, interviewing & intake, memo writing, working with vulnerable clients, and drafting court pleadings.

 

This work (intake and legal representation) is likely to be New York Bar eligible. 

Criminal Record Expungement Project (C-REP)

The Criminal Record Expungement Project (C-REP) aims to reduce the negative effects of a criminal record on a person’s life, including limited access to employment, educational opportunities, housing, and public benefits.

What we do:

C-REP works with Philadelphians who have criminal records by conducting intake clinics for clients, processing intake applications, and filing petitions to expunge and redact non-conviction data from clients’ criminal records.

How we do it:

C-REP partners with Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity (“PLSE”), a non-profit legal aid organization dedicated to improving the lives of low-income individuals who are affected by the Pennsylvania criminal justice system. There are three intake clinics per semester that take place on Saturdays in West Philadelphia. During these clinics, volunteers meet with clients, listen to their stories, and screen their criminal records for expungement-eligible (i.e. non-conviction) charges. Volunteers may be able to participate in more than one clinic depending on interest and availability. There are also opportunities for volunteers to draft expungement petitions.

How and when can I join:

Visit C-REP at the virtual pro bono sign-up fair (at 3:45pm in Room 2 - Civil & Political Rights, Criminal Justice, and Education projects) and look out for details regarding the mandatory trainings in the fall semester, which will occur on September 18 and September 19, 2023. The time commitment for this project is flexible. Interested volunteers may also email the Co-Chairs, Ty Parks (typarks@pennlaw.upenn.edu) and Leigh Bianchi (lbia@pennlaw.upenn.edu).

What skills will I develop:

Interviewing & intake, client counseling, drafting court documents, and engaging with the community by working with vulnerable clients.

The work is likely to be New York Bar eligible.

Decarceration Advocacy Project (formerly Prison Legal Education Project)

The goal of the the Decarceration Advocacy Project, formerly the Prison Legal Education Project, is to support the decarceration movement by empowering people who are currently incarcerated in Pennsylvania jails and prisons through legal education and post-conviction relief assistance. Through this work, we hope to give incarcerated individuals resources and support so they know and can fully pursue their legal rights.

Read more about the project and our impact.

 

What we do:

The Decarceration Advocacy Project is composed of two parts:

Legal Education: We work with incarcerated people in the women’s units at Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (a jail) to create legal resources relevant to their current situation. We facilitate weekly discussions on Friday afternoons about these resources. Topics include, but are not limited to, steps of misdemeanor and felony criminal cases, court-appointed attorneys, family law, housing law, plea decisions and their consequences, resources for when they’re out (food, shelter, healthcare, etc.), search and seizure law, self-defense law, and tax law. We also translate our resources into Spanish. 

Post Conviction: We work with individuals who are incarcerated on appeals and Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petitions. Incarcerated individuals have a right to pursue appeals of their convictions and submit post-conviction challenges after a conviction is finalized. We work with Phillips Black (a nonprofit, public interest law practice) to help prepare petitions pursuant to the PCRA for individuals identified as wrongfully convicted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit. Work includes legal research, file review, and necessary work including digesting transcripts, discovery, police reports, and depositions.

 

How we do it:

Legal Education: Volunteers work with incarcerated individuals at the facility during each weekly lesson alongside other Penn Carey Law students. We disseminate our weekly resources and then talk with folks in small groups or one-on-one about the resources. We listen to people’s stories and write down any information that should be added to our handouts based on those conversations. We do not provide individual legal advice. Transportation to the jail is covered by TPIC.

Post Conviction: Volunteers assist attorneys on their clients’ PCRA petitions by conducting legal research, file review, and any other necessary assistance. Work will primarily be assigned as discrete projects with specified time commitments. A project can include digesting a transcript, reviewing police reports, or any other steps necessary to prepare a client’s PCRA petition. Work will be completed remotely on the volunteer’s schedule. 

 

How and when can I join:

Interested volunteers should email Aleyah Hassan (aleyah@pennlaw.upenn.edu), one of the Post Conviction chairs, and Meagan Murray (mmeagan@pennlaw.upenn.edu), one of the Legal Education chairs, with any questions. 

You can also visit us at the Pro Bono sign up fair to learn more!

 

What skills will I develop:

Working with incarcerated clients, community lawyering, legal research, legal writing, legal analysis, classroom management, public speaking, presentation skills, teaching and making legal jargon digestible.

 

This work is likely to be New York Bar eligible. 

Law & Justice Mentorship Program

The Law & Justice Mentorship Program (LJMP) is a pipeline initiative aimed toward connecting high school students of color, historically underrepresented in the legal profession, to critical pre-law opportunities and mentorship. The program aims to increase high school students’ exposure to and enrollment in local law schools. 

 

What we do:

LJMP operates through a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, Heights Philadelphia, the Pepper Center for Public Service and local high schools.

 

LJMP’s structure has three components: In-School Sessions, Summer Internships, and Mentorship. In our In-School Sessions, LJMP volunteers lead problem-solving workshops and guide student discussion on key topics. Last year’s topics included mass incarceration, immigration and gun violence. These in-school sessions also feature workshops with local lawyers and advocates.

 

How we do it:

Law students lead classroom sessions every other week at Lincoln High School to guide discussions about current and meaningful legal issues and lead problem-solving workshops. 

 

How and when can I join:

The in-classroom sessions begin in January 2024. Interested volunteers should sign up now to complete the background clearance process and orientation for the project. If you are interested in joining, email project leaders Zoe Stern and Joy Dartey.

 

What skills will I develop:

Community engagement, leadership, group management, education and public speaking.

Pardon Project

The Pardon Project is committed to reducing the collateral consequences of criminal convictions by assisting Philadelphia residents with pardon applications.

Mission Statement:

The Penn Law Pardon Project empowers people to move past their prior convictions. Despite having already paid for their crimes in bail, jail time, and court costs, formerly convicted persons continue to face discrimination when they try to get jobs, go back to school, apply for housing, and register to vote. In Pennsylvania, the only way to remove a felony or non-summary misdemeanor conviction from a record is by receiving a Pardon from the Governor. The Penn Law Pardon Project pairs students with client-partners to complete the pardon application process.

What we do:

We work with Philadelphia residents with criminal convictions that are seeking a pardon from the Governor. We work in collaboration with our client-partners in every aspect of the pardon application including helping secure court files, writing the required essays, and filling out the required forms.

How we do it:

The Pardon Project is a year-long pro-bono project where students are paired with at least one client-partner and work in collaboration with Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity. Students will work with the client-partner over the course of the year to complete the pardon application.

How and when can I join:

Our application is live until September 21. Participants must attend training in the Fall and commit to the project for the full academic year. If you have questions, please email the Pardon Project Co-Directors, Alejandro Ashworth, Olivia Heffernan and Tora Husar.

 

What skills will I develop:

Client counseling and interviewing skills, legal analysis skills, legal writing, and advocacy skills.

 

The work is likely to be New York Bar eligible.

Penn Law’s Walk-In Legal Assistance Project (WILA)

At a weekly clinic, WILA provides accessible civil legal services to people who are experiencing homelessness or are housing insecure.

What we do: 

Students complete intake services and assist with birth certificate applications, SSI/SSDI screenings, tax returns, landlord/tenant disputes, issues with public benefits, and other civil legal issues at a weekly meal program. Students may also complete work outside of the regular times of the clinic as required for cases or outreach projects.

How we do it:

People who are attending a weekly meal program come to the legal clinic’s station when they are looking for legal assistance or advocacy. Students conduct an intake interview and assist with completing the applicable civil legal services while working closely with the supervising attorney.

Who we work with: 

We work with clients who are housing insecure or experiencing homelessness at a weekly meal program, run by the University City Hospitality Coalition (UCHC). Additionally, WILA partners with the Homeless Advocacy Project, an organization that delivers legal services directly to people experiencing homelessness where they live and eat.

How and when can I join:

Students should complete WILA’s volunteer application during the first few week.s of the Fall semester. Upon acceptance, WILA volunteers must attend a Homeless Advocacy Project training, offered at the law school, before they can begin assisting clients. After the application period has closed, interested students should email Volunteer Coordinator Megan Bird.

What skills will I develop:

Interviewing and intake, client counseling, access to government and social services, community engagement, legal analysis.

The work is likely to be New York Bar eligible. 

Youth Education Program (YEP)

The Youth Education Program (YEP) introduces high school students to the basics of law through weekly lessons and preparation for a moot court or mock trial competition.

What we do:

We teach Philadelphia high school students basic constitutional principles and provide an opportunity for enrichment in the social sciences. We also help students develop public speaking skills and build arguments so they can effectively perform in mock trial or moot court competitions in the Spring. Broadly, this program is intended to get students excited about legal principles and ideas.

How we do it:

Penn Law students teach in various Philadelphia public high schools and prepare high school students to participate in either Mock Trial or Moot Court competitions. Following basic legal lessons, in the fall semester Penn Law volunteers educate all high school classes on a Constitutional amendment. We will also be hosting a new symposium for students in the first semester. In the spring, volunteers will prep their students on either (1) a fact pattern that focuses on a legal issue that highlights all the learned principles for the Moot Court Competition or (2) the assigned case for the Mock Trial Competition. The program culminates with the students competing against their peers from all the participating high schools in either a Mock Trial or Moot Court Competition.

How and when can I join:

Keep an eye out for an application in the Fall semester! We’ll be at the Pro Bono sign up fair as well. If you have any questions, please email YEP’s Director Joe Stuever (jstuever@pennlaw.upenn.edu). 

What skills will I develop:

Community engagement, appellate advocacy, trial strategy, trial prep, classroom management, public speaking, presentation skills, education

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