Get Involved

East River's mission is to provide legal services for the impoverished and victimized citizens of eastern South Dakota. Our clients are made up of the more than 14% of South Dakotans living below the poverty line. For these people, justice is not an abstract concept. It is tangible material reality. It is food, shelter, and protection. It is the difference between staying in poverty and getting out; living in danger or in safety; between dependence and self-reliance. But without help, justice is often denied. East River Legal Services (ERLS) is dedicated to the belief that no one should be denied access to justice because of poverty. ERLS is committed to being the leader in providing dependable, high-quality, meaningful legal assistance focused on transforming the lives of the impoverished and abused members of our community.

How you can make a difference:

Private Attorney Involvement

Our volunteer attorneys help clients with a variety of legal issues on a pro bono basis. Click here for more information.

Students & Interns

Each year, we offer law students the chance to work alongside staff attorneys and legal teams and learn about poverty law. Click here for more information. 

 

Community Members

We often offer non-legal students the opportunity to gain valuable, real-world experience working in a professional non-profit setting. Click here for more information. 

Want to become part of our team? Visit our Employment Opportunities page.