Fifteen Northridge students will be among 100 Los Angeles-area undergraduates who will provide services at 10 local Self-Help Legal Access Centers. They also will work with the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs Claims Advisor.

The program, JusticeCorps, is co-sponsored by the California Administrative Office of the Courts, the Superior Court of California and the County of Los Angeles. It is funded by a grant from California AmeriCorps to the Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts.

Bruce Zucker, associate professor of business law at CSUN, will administer the project in association with the university's Center for Community Service-Learning.

"California is experiencing an explosion in the number of individuals appearing in court without legal representation on a variety of matters, from family law to consumer fraud to housing issues," Zucker said. "The majority of these individuals are not obtaining professional help because they cannot afford it. Available resources are sorely lacking. In fact, the ratio of people to legal aid attorneys in California is 10,000 to one. Our students will be able to make a difference."

Maureen Rubin, director of the service-learning center, added, "Participation in JusticeCorps will give students an opportunity to receive quality training, explore careers in legal services and gain real-world experience while providing a genuine service to our community. JusticeCorps will also be a valuable addition to law and graduate school applications."

JusticeCorps members will be asked to make a 300-hour commitment during the 2004-2005 academic year. They will be trained to provide legal assistance at regular reflection sessions with Zucker and through one-on-one direct contact with litigants, legal workshops and computer terminals designed to assist with completion of forms. In addition, upon completion of the 300-hour commitment, students will receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,000 to be used toward tuition.

Throughout the project, the students will hear presentations from representatives from the courts, state government and the legislature. The Northridge students will be joined in the project by their peers from UCLA, California State University, Dominguez Hills, and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

For more information, contact Bruce Zucker at bruce.zucker@csun.edu or (818) 677-3964, or Maureen Rubin at maureen.rubin@csun.edu or (818) 677-7395.

Launched in 1998, CSUN's Center for Community-Service Learning aims to inspire, encourage and support students and faculty in their pursuit of academic excellence through involvement in meaningful community service.