AmeriCorps Member
Background: Iowa Legal Aid seeks applicants to fill full-time and half-time AmeriCorps member positions for its regional offices in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo, subject to funding availability. Iowa Legal Aid provides free, high quality legal education, advice and representation to low-income and elderly Iowans with civil legal problems that most dramatically affect them, including homelessness, domestic/sexual violence, income security, and access to health care and government benefits.
Responsibilities: Individual AmeriCorps members will participate in various tasks that can include: helping seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and other low-income Iowans get free legal help; enhancing the unified client intake system; increasing outreach to underserved Iowans; advancing self-help legal education; recruiting and managing volunteers; improving volunteer management practices; connecting low-income and elderly Iowans to financial/social supports; enhancing Iowa Legal Aid’s website.
Qualifications: We seek applicants who communicate well with individuals and groups, both orally and in writing, and are committed to helping make equal access to justice a reality for all Iowans. In compliance with federal law, members will be required to verify identity and status as a US citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident, and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form. Applicants should have some or all of the following:
- Background working with people who are low-income, elderly, victims of domestic/sexual abuse, and/or have disabilities;
- Bi-lingual verbal and written communication skills, in one of the languages most used by low-income Iowans, including Arabic, Bosnian, French, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese, and/or ASL;
- Ability to use computers to organize information, update website, and/or perform research;
- College or community college;
- Background in journalism, teaching, social work, law, and/or volunteer management.
Opening/Closing Date: When filled.
- Full-time members will start between September 1, and November 30, 2026.
- Half-time members will start between September 1, and January 29, 2027.
Salary/Benefits:
- Full-time members receive a modest living stipend ($21,400 for 11 months), student loan forbearance, childcare benefit, individual health insurance, and are eligible for a Segal Education Award of $7,395 upon successful completion of service.
- Half-time members (working 40 weeks at 22.5 hours/week OR 30 weeks at 30 hours/week) will receive a stipend of $11,329 and are eligible for a Segal Education Award of $3,697.50.
Applications: Submit letter of application, including geographic preference, resume, and contact information for at least three professional and/or academic references