About the Court Service Centers
The CSCs are committed to providing access to justice to Massachusetts residents. We seek to provide comprehensive legal information and access to resources to court users without attorneys who have cases in Family Court, Housing Court and District Court. For more information about CSCs, visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/court-service-centers.
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Court Service Centers (CSCs) Internship, Volunteer and Fellowship Program. This internship will be hybrid and will offer both in-person and remote opportunities allowing you to be able to assist at one or more of our locations across the state. In addition to opportunities at our brick-and-mortar locations, there are also opportunities in our Virtual Court Service Center which acts as our statewide call center.
We are looking for interns, volunteers and fellows who are interested in gaining hands-on experience within the Massachusetts Trial Court while helping underserved populations gain access to the court system. Students must be residents of Massachusetts or attend school in Massachusetts in order to be considered for this internship.
The number of hours you spend with us is flexible (part-time or full-time). CSCs work hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In our local centers, we provide in-person services on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and centers provide remote services on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The Virtual Court Service Center provides remote services Monday through Friday. Your start and end date are also flexible and will be coordinated with your immediate supervisor, if selected.
You will learn about:
? Common legal issues in Probate and Family, Housing and District Court
? Challenges within the court system faced by members of underserved communities
? How to complete court forms
? Basic substantive and procedural law
? Social and legal services organizations
? Interviewing and triage skills
Duties may include the following:
? Greeting and triage court users
? Identifying legal issues and needs
? Providing legal information in Family, Housing, and some Criminal law issues
? Helping court users completing paperwork
? Researching local resources
? Making referrals to legal aid, community organizations and court departments
? Developing plain-language self-help materials for litigants
What we are looking for:
? Experience or interest in working with people of diverse backgrounds
? Able to work independently as well as part of a team
? Able to remain calm under pressure
? Committed to learning about legal processes, the court system, and available resources.
? Experience or interest in customer service
? Commitment to public service
***WE ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT OF DIVERSITY, MULTICULTURALISM, AND INCLUSION. CANDIDATES WHO SPEAK A SECOND LANGUAGE ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
Court Service Center Locations:
· Boston
· Brockton
· Lawrence
· Lowell
· Greenfield
· Springfield
· Virtual Court Service Center (call center)
· Worcester
