The Alaska Legal Services Corp. is welcoming a summer intern at its Fairbanks office.
The intern is part of the Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC), a partnership between LSC and Equal Justice Works. Each summer, law student fellows join LSC-funded legal aid organizations to support clients in underserved rural areas.
RSLC training started in late May with interns from across the country. From helping survivors of domestic violence to advocating for veterans and seniors, these fellows will provide legal assistance this summer. Many rural communities in the United States are “legal deserts"—areas with a critical shortage of lawyers and legal resources.
More than 70 rural communities in the United States have been helped by Rural Summer Legal Corps fellows. Between 2017 and 2021, 190 fellows served nearly 7,000 rural community members, including 1,183 agricultural workers, 735 survivors of domestic violence, 1,600 seniors, 230 veterans, and more. Each fellow spent, on average, 90 hours over the summer providing direct legal services to the community. This can include outreach and education activities, work on client cases, client intake, and assisting with legal clinics.
