APPLICATIONS FOR 2023 ARE NOW OPEN!
The Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago high school application for 2023 is now open. Applications must be submitted online by January 20, 2023, 11:59 PM (Chicago time). Click here to apply.
The Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago (FJLOC) program is for students who are interested in becoming lawyers dedicated to serving justice in some way.
FJLOC members are students who are interested in:
- Confronting existing injustices;
- Having practical experiences with our justice system;
- Learning from members of well-respected Chicago based legal organizations that have a combined history of more than 75 years of tackling systemic injustices;
- Networking with lawyers, law students, and other students interested in addressing issues of injustice;
- Getting a deeper understanding of our legal system; and
- Gaining more insight into whether a career in the law is the right choice.
Click here to download the FJLOC flyer.
Please email futurejusticelawyers@chicagoappleseed.org if you have any questions or would like further information. Go to ChicagoAppleseed.org/Get-Involved to learn about other ways to get involved with our work.
GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION
PURPOSE
In support of the missions of Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and the Chicago Council of Lawyers, FJLOC provides opportunities and resources to high school students who are interested in becoming lawyers that will spend some part of their career working to make our justice system more fair, equal, impartial, accessible, and just, which, over time, will increase the number of such lawyers working to improve our justice system and tackle issues of systemic injustice in our community.
MISSION
FJLOC fosters high school students in the Chicago area with active advising by members of Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council on individual and group projects and engagement in other enrichment opportunities, deepening the each student’s understanding of the practice of law, connecting them with lawyers and other students interested in serving justice, helping them better understand and develop skills that are essential for practicing law, and ultimately, increasing the number of lawyers doing justice work.
FJLOC MEMBER BENEFITS
- Working on individual and group projects with guidance, advice, and oversight from Chicago Appleseed and Chicago Council members.
- Getting support from Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council on individual and group projects, including one-on-one meetings.
- Networking with lawyers and other students interested in addressing issues of injustice.
- Engaging with students attending a wide-variety of schools in the Chicago area who are also interested in the law and in confronting systemic injustices.
- Attending speaker panels with lawyers on specific justice issues.
- Presenting completed projects with the endorsement and backing of Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
FJLOC members work on individual and peer group projects with guidance and oversight from advisors from Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and the Chicago Council of Lawyers.
- Court-watching proceedings in civil and criminal courts to collect case outcome data, observe judicial behavior and culture, and to understand general court functioning.
- Drafting letters to the editor of local publications about justice/injustice issues.
- Making a statement at local jurisdiction board meetings during public comment periods.
- Drafting letters about justice/injustice issues to local elected officials or federal officials located in Cook County.
- Create and complete projects on justice/injustice issues proposed by the FJLOC student.
- Research and draft reasoned paper on whether Illinois public nuisance law should apply to guns in Chicago.
- Survey and draft paper on changes in Circuit Court of Cook County Criminal Division since publication of Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve’s Crook County book in 2016.
- Survey use of restorative justice approaches in courts and evaluate their efficacy,
- Review Cook County criminal proceedings and local media reporting on such proceedings and draft a paper on the alignment or discrepancy between the two.
- Address an existing injustice with a project that the students propose, plan, and execute, always under the guidance of the Project Advisors.
APPLICATION & ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
The Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago high school application for 2023 is now open.
Applications must be submitted online by January 20, 2023, 11:59 PM (Chicago time). The application portal will not be available after this date. Chicago Appleseed & Council staff will notify applicants of acceptance for membership by February 6, 2023. Offers of acceptance will continue until all available spots are filled. Applicants who do not receive an offer of acceptance by email will be notified of their status by February 6, 2023.
- CLICK HERE FOR THE FJLOC APPLICATION. To apply, complete the application form before January 20, 2023 and add one mandatory reference from a current or former high school teacher or advisor (you may choose to add two optional references, as well).
- There will be an information and application workshop in January announced soon.
Before applying, please review the Important Dates and Frequently Asked Questions below.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Be enrolled as a student at a high school in the Chicago area.
- Reside in the Chicago area from January through July of 2023.
- Be able to attend monthly meetings in the Chicago Loop one.
- Saturday a month from February through May and attend weekly meetings in the Chicago Loop one day a week during June and July of 2023.
- Commit to completing before the end of June, 2023, at least one individual project that is overseen by Chicago Council and Chicago Appleseed members. Please review the list of sample individual projects.
- Commit to making meaningful contributions to a project to be completed by the FJLOC chapter before the end of June, 2023 and join with the other FJLOC members in committing to completing such project at such time. Please review the list of sample group projects.
- Have an interest in pursuing a career as a lawyer.
- Have a genuine interest in confronting systemic injustices in our community.
IMPORTANT DATES
December 1, 2022 – Application open date.
TBD January 2022 – Information and application workshop.
January 20, 2023 – Application close date.
By February 6, 2023 – Notification date.
February 25, 2023 – Initial meeting date.
Two hours on one Saturday, February through May 2023 – Monthly meetings.
One full day each week during June and July 2023 – Weekly meetings.
End of July 2023 – Capstone event.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, if the job or internship does not prevent satisfaction of the required FJLOC membership commitments and required meeting attendance.
No, all FJLOC applications for 2023 must be submitted on or before January 20, 2023.
Students will receive notice of the status of their application by February 6, 2023.