Student Programs
Training Future Public-Interest Advocates
Rising for Justice trains and inspires the next generation of public-interest advocates while providing free, high-quality legal and social work services to low-income DC residents.
Legal and social work students leave RFJ with practical experience, professional training, and a foundational understanding of how justice systems should function to meet people at their most precarious moments.
Interested in training with Rising for Justice? Please contact the appropriate program for eligibility and enrollment details.
Law School Clinic
Housing Advocacy & Litigation Clinic (HALC)
Students from DC-area law schools participate in the Housing Advocacy & Litigation Clinic (HALC) for academic credit through their home institutions.
Under the supervision of staff attorneys, students develop litigation strategies and client-centered advocacy practices through hands-on work, including case preparation, courtroom representation, and ongoing mentorship.
Pursuant to the Superior Court’s student practice rule, student attorneys represent clients and manage all aspects of assigned cases. Students also participate in weekly seminars, supervision meetings, case rounds, mock trials, and courthouse- and community-based intake sessions.
By harnessing the energy and skills of student attorneys, Rising for Justice expands our capacity to serve more DC residents while building a pipeline to public-interest legal careers.
Law Student Testimonials
HALC alumna Sara Korniewicz (Georgetown University Law Center) reflects on her experience representing tenants and training in DC Superior Court.
Participation
Rising for Justice partners with DC-area law schools each semester. We offer two clinic sessions annually: fall (August-December) and spring (January-May). Interested students should contact their law school directly regarding eligibility and enrollment in HALC.
Social Work Program
Master of Social Work (MSW) Internships
Modeled after Rising for Justice’s nationally recognized law school clinic, our Social Work Program offers rigorous, hands-on internships for students pursuing a Master of Social Work degree.
RFJ Social Work students advocate for clients at risk of eviction, seeking to have their records sealed, or are respondents in a civil protection order. The MSW Internship Program includes weekly one-on-one clinical supervision, group learning sessions, monthly reporting, and structured opportunities for students to work directly with clients and the community.
Students support clients and legal teams by:
- Identifying clients who may be eligible for additional public benefits or services
- Conducting assessments to determine community-based supports and facilitating referrals
- Providing short-term case management and resource coordination
- Offering emotional support to clients navigating the stress of legal proceedings
- Assisting with crisis management
- Canvassing neighborhoods with high eviction rates to connect residents with services
Through close collaboration with attorneys and student attorneys, MSW interns help address both immediate legal needs and the broader social and economic challenges affecting clients’ stability.
MSW Student Testimonials
Hear from RFJ Social Work Intern Ronald Jeanty (Morgan State University) on his experience collaborating with student attorneys.
Participation
MSW students complete a yearlong (two-semester) field placement. Rising for Justice requires an affiliation agreement with schools to accept applications for placement
Current partner schools include:
- Catholic University of America
- George Mason University
- Howard University
- University of Maryland
- Morgan State University
- Virginia Commonwealth University
For additional information about the Social Work Program or clinical placement opportunities for MSW students, please contact socialwork@risingforjustice.org.
Student Internships
Undergraduate & Graduate Internships
Students interested in helping bridge Washington, DC’s justice gap may apply for internships with Rising for Justice.
Internships provide experience in a nonprofit legal setting where students support client cases and learn how civil legal aid operates in practice. Rising for Justice offers internships for undergraduate and law students across multiple departments.
Interns may assist with a range of responsibilities, including:
- Answering office phone lines and supporting the client intake process
- Entering and updating information in the case-management system
- Conducting legal and policy research
- Providing administrative and programmatic support for housing, civil protection order, and expungement cases, as well as communications and development initiatives
- Conducting remote investigations and telephone interviews with clients and witnesses
Participation
Rising for Justice offers semester-long and year-long internships, as well as summer internships. All internships are unpaid.
Undergraduate applicants are not required to major in pre-law or legal studies; opportunities are open to students with a demonstrated interest in justice, equity, and social progress.
Visit Careers to view current internship opportunities.
For internship inquiries, please contact careers@risingforjustice.org
901 4th Street NW, Suite 6000
Washington, DC 20001
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