Most teams meet remotely, but in-person and hybrid options are available.
Intake | 1-2 hours/week
Intake volunteers serve as the first point of contact for tenants in crisis. They answer and return hotline calls, assist with intake forms, uploading supporting documents, and guide callers toward resources or legal support. This team ensures every tenant’s case begins with care and accuracy.
Legal Assistants | 3-5 hours/week
The Legal Assistants team supports cases by reviewing client intakes, interviewing and communicating regularly with clients, conducting research, and assisting with other case tasks under direct attorney supervision. Eligibility for this team is restricted to current intake volunteers with at least one semester of experience. The application is shared internally with current eligible volunteers.
Data | 2-3 hours/week
The Data team collects, cleans, and analyzes information about TAP’s clients, services, and case outcomes, as well as local court monitoring data. Volunteers identify trends, create reports, and prepare policy recommendations.
Communications | 2-3 hours/week
The Communications team manages TAP’s external image. Volunteers create social media content, flyers, and outreach materials, while maintaining branding and publicizing TAP’s work across platforms.
Court Monitoring | 2-3 hours/week
The Court Monitoring team attends housing court proceedings in Ithaca and surrounding towns, documenting key case information and legal trends. They work closely with the Data team to help track eviction patterns, judicial behavior, and barriers to justice in real time.
Technology | 2-3 hours/week
The Tech team is mixed with law students and undergraduate volunteers. Undergraduate volunteers work with law students weekly to moderate TAP’s AI Q&A tool, “Teny,” and regularly conduct legal research to update the Tenants’ Rights Guide. Tech volunteers also develop and maintain no-code automation workflows to streamline case management as well as administrative tasks.
Clerical | 2-3 hours/week
The Clerical team keeps TAP’s internal operations running smoothly. Volunteers organize files, take meeting notes, create and update training guides, and support compliance with university policies.
Undergraduate court monitoring volunteers pose with law students and Professors Niebel and Wozer after successful advocacy in Ithaca City Court. Spring 2026. (from left) Lubina Neupane, Morgan Thomas (3L), Professor Bill Niebel, Professor Kathryn Wozer, Harvey Gao (3L), Joanne Lee, and Joshua Cohen.
Assistant Coordinator Amanda Nudelman greeting volunteers at a TAP undergraduate volunteer social in Myron Taylor Hall. Spring 2026.
(from left) Professor Bill Niebel, Program Coordinator Frankie Reed, and undergraduate volunteers Tess O’Donoghue, Courtney Huang, Amanda Nudelman, Anna Hammond, and Erick Palanker at a TAP volunteer social event in the Law School café. Spring 2025.
Current undergraduate leaders present volunteering opportunities at the TAP undergraduate information session in Myron Taylor Hall. Fall 2025.
Tech Lead Erick Palanker tabling for TAP at Clubfest on the Arts Quad. Fall 2025.
Undergraduate leaders receive special opportunities to interact more closely with faculty, staff, and law students. One such opportunity is the selection of 1–2 outstanding undergraduate leaders for credit enrollment in the Tenants Advocacy Practicum alongside advanced law students (2Ls, 3Ls, and LLMs).
Enrolling in the Practicum allows undergraduate leaders to engage in structured, hands-on learning about how housing law is applied to real-world situations affecting local tenants alongside law students, attorneys, and faculty. Undergraduate students may choose to participate in supervised casework either solo or paired with a law student, though this is not required, as the Practicum also serves as recognition of leadership and sustained commitment to TAP.
Team Lead | 4-5 hours/week
The Team Lead oversees and supports volunteer work, ensuring tasks are completed effectively while improving team operations and resources. They also recruit and onboard volunteers, facilitate regular check-ins, and collaborate in weekly leadership meetings with other team leads to guide the undergraduate program collectively. There is one Lead per team (except legal assistants). Instead of a team lead, legal assistants are supervised by TAP faculty and staff.
Requires at least one semester of TAP volunteer experience and demonstrated reliability.
Assistant Coordinator | 4-5 hours/week
The Assistant Coordinator oversees all undergraduate teams and supports Team Leads, ensuring smooth operations while improving efficiency, retention, and team development. They also lead weekly leadership meetings, coordinate recruitment and volunteer transitions, maintain training resources, and assist with casework as needed. They work closely with the Program Coordinator to support the overall functioning of the undergraduate section and receive priority consideration for Practicum enrollment.
Requires at least two semesters of TAP Lead experience and demonstrated reliability.
TAP is more than a program—it’s a community of dedicated students, volunteers, and advocates working toward the shared goal of safe, secure housing for all. Every role, whether on the front lines with tenants or behind the scenes supporting operations, plays a critical part in advancing housing justice.
Get to know the passionate leaders behind TAP and see how they’re making housing justice possible.
To apply, you must complete a Volunteer Profile, which serves as your application. The link is provided at the end of this page.
The Volunteer Profile will ask for:
Your resume must include an education section, along with any relevant experience, training, and skills. You don’t need prior legal experience to apply. You will also be required to sign a confidentiality agreement within the Volunteer Profile.
Incomplete applications—or resumes that are missing information or are not legible—will not be considered.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, in the order received, and there is no formal deadline to apply. Due to high demand and limited availability, you may not hear from us until an opening becomes available on your preferred team. This may take until a future semester or academic year.
If you would like an update on your application status or waitlist position, you are welcome to contact us at tenantsadvocacy@cornell.edu.
If your application is selected for an opening, you will receive a volunteer agreement to confirm your participation. After signing, you will complete required trainings and begin attending weekly team check-ins led by your team lead. From that point forward, volunteers are expected to complete assigned tasks and communicate regularly with their team.
Volunteer agreements must be renewed if you wish to continue beyond the stated end date.
For additional questions, please contact tenantsadvocacy@cornell.edu or attend an upcoming information session.
