The Reentry Advocacy Project (RAP) works with Root & Rebound, an Oakland non-profit, to provide free legal information to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals on navigating the legal barriers imposed by a criminal history when reentering society. RAP volunteers will work with attorneys on Root & Rebound’s legal aid hotline to take calls from clients in prison and across California, conduct legal research, and provide follow up information and resources. By engaging in this work, students will learn about California criminal law and procedure while seeing the real-world effects of criminal law on individuals in the system and their loved ones.
Students who participate in RAP will work on the hotline every other Friday, with flexibility in choosing between morning and afternoon shifts, for both fall and spring semesters. This work will be done in-person, at the Root & Rebound office in Oakland. Students will be responsible for their own transportation and reimbursements will be provided as needed. Group meals will be provided periodically throughout both semesters.
About our partner organization: Root & Rebound is a non-profit in Oakland founded by Berkeley Law alums that provides legal information to individuals who are reentering society from prison. Root & Rebound’s mission is to transfer power and information from the policy and legal communities to the people most impacted by our criminal justice system through public education, direct legal services, and policy advocacy, so that the law serves, rather than harms, low-income communities and communities of color in the United States.
Supervision: Students will receive training and be supervised by attorneys at Root & Rebound.
Time Commitment: Students will have a 3-4 hour volunteer session every other week through both semesters. The time commitment comes to ~20 hours per semester when including training and meetings. Students will not be asked or expected to do any work for RAP after the end of classes each semester during reading days or the exam period.
For more information, please contact the student leaders at ReentryAdvocacy@berkeley.edu.