Get Help Managing Your Student Debt
For many law school graduates, student debt is the single largest barrier to pursuing a career in public interest law. View our Student Debt Resources to learn more about managing your debt load.
Opportunities
Rural Summer Legal Corps
Rural communities in the U.S. and its territories face a shortage of lawyers, with a large population of the country being forced to travel hundreds of miles to find legal assistance. Participate in Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC) and help address the access-to justice-crisis for people living in rural areas.
Each summer, Equal Justice Works partners with the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to support dedicated law students who want to serve rural communities, as part of the Rural Summer Legal Corps. This year, 50 Student Fellows will spend eight to ten weeks at LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations developing valuable skills and gaining hands-on experience.
Student Fellows tackle a number of results-driven community projects including responding to disaster-related legal issues; addressing affordable housing and evictions; and providing legal aid to victims of domestic violence.
Fellowship Overview & Benefits
- Gain hands-on experience addressing the unique needs of rural communities
- Eight to ten-week summer engagement (300 hours of service)
- Participants receive a $7,000 stipend for their service
- Students have the option to apply for unlimited outside funding through their university or other sources
- Provide direct legal services and conduct client and witness interviews
- Engage in community outreach and education including fact sheet distribution, strategic partnership development, and presentations
- Build capacity at one's host organization through resource development and training sessions
Hey law students! Stay in the loop
Quick Facts
- 50 Rural Summer Legal Corps Student Fellows in the 2024 Class
- 300 hours of service within an eight to ten-week period
-
RSLC provided invaluable practical experience with the training wheels off.
Samantha Beauchamp
2022 RSLC Student Fellow - $7k stipend for completing one’s summer of service
Still have questions? Email us at
[email protected]
How it works...
Before submitting your application, view the 2025 host site projects, and be prepared to choose your top three location choices. Applicants will be asked to provide a résumé and a personal statement describing the candidate's interest in the program.
Winter
1 Check to make sure you’re eligible
All applicants must…
- Be a current law student at an Equal Justice Works member law school, who has completed at least their first year of law school by the start of their summer placement
- Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident (e.g., green card)
- For several placements, possess a valid driver’s license and access to adequate transportation during summer placement
2 View RSLC Host Organizations
From New York to California, organizations nationwide host RSLC Student Fellows
Candidates will be required to provide their top three host organization choices. The full list of host organizations is available here.
3 Complete your application
Applicants will be asked to provide a résumé and personal statement describing their interest in the program. Once applications close, interviews with host organizations are conducted on a rolling basis in early spring. Applicants are notified of their acceptance about a month after the application closes.
If selected...
Attend a two-day training and begin your summer of service
All RSLC Student Fellows attend an exciting two-day training in Washington, D.C., before their service begins. This training is made up of a series of workshops and panels, networking opportunities, and the chance to connect with and ask questions of the Legal Services Corporation and Equal Justice Works staff. Fellows receive travel accommodations and lodging for the training, as well as travel arrangements from the training to each student’s host organization.
2023 Highlights
Learn About the Impact of a Summer of Service!
In 2023, RSLC Student Fellows spent eight to ten weeks providing direct legal services and engaging in community outreach and education. Selected from over 330 applications, the 2023 class of RSLC Student Fellows included 45 Student Fellows who served at 41 LSC-funded civil legal organizations across the country. During their summer of service, Student Fellows collectively contributed 13,129 hours to help rural communities attain access to legal aid, with 4,881 hours spent on direct legal services! Their efforts helped a total of 2,194 individuals, and they assisted on 1,030 legal cases. Stay tuned for data from the 2024 class!
Frequently Asked Questions
When will my application be evaluated?
When does the 2025 program start and end?
Is housing provided during the Fellowship?
Interested in hosting an RSLC Student Fellow?