Join us in making legislative history! Rise Justice Labs is a first of its kind civil rights accelerator. Our mission is to help everyday people pass their first law. We have passed more than 60 laws across the country, and we are teaching others to do the same. We dismantle systemic barriers in the legislative process by giving everyday people a blueprint to access democracy.

We deliver on our mission through an intensive 12-week training program (November 9, 2022 to February 3, 2023) that includes seed funding, skills workshops, 1:1 coaching, guest lectures, access to professional services, and a network of Congressional and State legislators.

We are seeking short-term pro bono legal support to effectively equip program participants. Primary activities would likely include:

- Supporting ongoing research to help participants determine which rights already exist and where there are opportunities to strengthen the law (potential bill sponsors want to know that proposed legislation is not duplicating or creating conflict among existing laws and definitions);
- Reviewing and editing draft legislation;
- Giving feedback on memos to legislative and governors' offices;
- Answering questions about filing for 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) status, if relevant.

We are currently looking for volunteer support on the following issue campaigns:

1. "Restraining Orders Without Borders": a bill which allows for a nonresident plaintiff to petition for a restraining order against a resident defendant, or a resident plaintiff to petition for a restraining order against a nonresident defendant. The bill would also create a standardized process for the collection and transfer of sexual/domestic violence police reports.
2. A Nebraska state-level bill that aims to mandate a multidisciplinary Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Review Board for each district or county attorney’s office, to formally review both aggregate dismissal data and individual cases upon victim request.
3. "Kids Above Corporations": goal is to amend the Federal Communications Act to allow victims of online child abuse to hold third parties responsible if pornographic or pedophilic material is found on their platforms and create clear pathways for minors to report and remove such material.

Please indicate which of the above campaigns above (#1-3) you would be interested in supporting. After an initial placement call, volunteers will be introduced with team members to learn more about their current stage of campaign development and their legal needs. From then, We the Action volunteers will coordinate directly with their designated team. While the accelerator program formally ends on February 3, volunteers may decide if they’d like to continue supporting a team going forward.