Title:MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program celebrates fifth cohort

Last fall, the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA)-Georgetown Paralegal Program’s fifth cohort of 13 fellows received Paralegal Studies certificates from Georgetown Law.

The rigorous 24-week program trains returning citizens to understand the law and use their education to help others.

The program is funded by MORCA, in partnership with the city’s Department of Employment Services, Georgetown’s Prisons and Justice Initiative (PJI), and Georgetown University Law Center.

“This program is transformative for returning citizens in helping them feel supported and gain the reentry resources that they need to stabilize themselves and provide for their family and themselves,” says Maya Hambrick (C’22, G’29), PJI’s paralegal program manager. “The program provides a thoughtfully designed educational and professional development framework, which I’ve found to be incredibly helpful for people.”

Classes are held six days per week for six months. Fellows take six classes in topics such as legal research and writing, corporate law, torts, contracts, legal technology, ethics, digital literacy, and job readiness. A stipend is available to eliminate financial barriers.

As the program concludes, fellows get help compiling cover letters, resumes, and writing samples, and then applying for jobs.

“Over the years, we’ve increased technology training significantly since that’s a barrier that returning citizens face when coming home,” says Hambrick.

Nicole Johnson graduated with the fifth cohort and accepted her role as senior legal assistant at Legal Aid DC, a local nonprofit where a number of other graduates work.

“I was interested in participating in the program because I felt like it was an opportunity for me to establish a new career while also simultaneously being able to contribute to things that impact my community,” says Johnson. “It was very challenging, but I enjoyed it. It was a good challenge.”

Johnson works for the intake unit, interviewing potential clients to see if Legal Aid DC can represent them in their civil matters.

“I appreciate the opportunity that Georgetown, MORCA, and the other partners make possible,” says Johnson. “Even if there’s no job placement guarantee at the end, I feel like it’s a great experience and a great opportunity to build our skill set in a way that is not always available.”

Another reentry program offered through PJI is the Georgetown Pivot Program, which is focused on business and entrepreneurship. Since 2018, the Pivot Program, in partnership with the DC Department of Employment Services, has graduated 80 students in six cohorts, with 91% of graduates employed within three months.