Over 50 years ago, a consortium of District of Columbia law schools, judges and advocates created the D.C. Law Students in Court program, which has grown into Rising for Justice.
Law Students in Court has become Rising for Justice
For over 50 years, Rising for Justice (formerly Law Students in Court) has provided legal services to individuals who are in grave jeopardy, and provided law students with the experience of practicing law to better enable them to be life-long advocates for justice.
Rising for Justice is a social justice organization committed to the principles of racial equity. We unequivocally believe that BLACK LIVES MATTER. Over the course of more than 50 years, we have worked to vindicate the rights of our clients and have witnessed both the direct and collateral effects of systemic racism imposed on communities of color in the District. As advocates and allies, we believe the continuing and senseless murders of Black and Brown people by police officers in this country must – like all other manifestations of racism – come to an end. We recognize that we must do more as an organization to actively promote the eradication of systemic racism. Toward that end, we are examining our organization to ensure we are working to do our very best to implement anti-racist principles in sustainable ways that will impact all aspects of our work.
Due to the public health concerns associated with COVID-19, the majority of Rising for Justice employees are working remotely; however, we maintain full operations at this time. We have closed in-person intake at our main office at 901 – 4th Street, N.W. on a temporary basis. We also have suspended operations temporarily in Room 210 in Superior Court Building B at 510 - 4th Street, N.W., and at our office in courtroom 118 in the main building of the Superior Court at 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W. During this period, we will be available for intake and all other client matters by telephone. For assistance, please call our main office between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm at 202-638-4798. If you are a tenant in need of immediate assistance, please call between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm for same-day services.
Today
To prevent injustices today, we represent individuals who are in grave legal jeopardy.
Tomorrow
To build a better tomorrow, we teach law students to be life-long advocates for justice.
Always
To ensure justice always, we innovate sustainable solutions to problems of justice and equity.
