Volunteer
Volunteer Opportunities for Attorneys
Emergency Services – Remote Order of Protection Hotline
Our Emergency Order of Protection Hotline is an opportunity for volunteers to work directly with survivors of gender-based violence over the phone to help them file for an Emergency Order of Protection. Volunteers interview clients and prepare and submit the petition for an Order of Protection, which includes the client’s affidavit, and other necessary court forms. EOP Hotline FAQsFamily Defense – Full Representation
Ascend Justice provides training and ongoing case supervision for attorneys on how to represent wrongly-accused parents and child care professionals in appeals of abuse or neglect “indicated” findings in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ Administrative Hearings Unit.Incarcerated Survivors Program
Ascend Justice is now placing clemency cases with interested and experienced firms!Other Practice Areas
We occasionally have pro bono opportunities in our other practice areas such as family law and economic justice. If you have experience in or would like to help out with either of those areas, please contact Volunteer Services at volunteerservices@ascendjustice.org. Training and assistance are always provided by our Ascend Justice attorneys. Training videos for Family Defense and Orders of Protection are CLE credit eligible (for Illinois attorneys).Work with us as an Intern!
Economic Justice Project – Economic Justice Project Interns assist survivors of domestic violence with employment law issues under the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), housing law issues under the Illinois Safe Homes Act, Crime Victims Compensation, and consumer debt issues.
Family Defense Project – Family Defense interns help families and individuals affected by difficult life circumstances such as poverty and domestic violence and who are under investigation by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) or who are appealing DCFS indicated findings.
Family Law Division – Family Law interns assist with the representation of survivors of gender-based violence in divorce and parentage actions to help them achieve safety from abusive relationships.
Incarcerated Survivors (remote) – Interns assist in providing a range of civil legal services to survivors of gender-based violence who are either incarcerated are under the threat of correctional control.
Independence Project (immigration) – Immigration interns assist undocumented survivors of gender-based violence gain legal status by helping them apply for a U-Visa or self-petitioning under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
Order of Protection (OP) Division – Interns assist survivors of gender-based violence obtain civil orders of protection.
Client Support/Social Work Internship (Bi-lingual) – The bi-lingual social work intern works with Client Support Coordinator, and responsibilities include: outreach, case management, intake, and crisis prevention. Interns must be bi-lingual (Spanish/English).
