Paralegal Program Partnership with OAG Empowers Returning Citizens
The MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program partners with organizations throughout the community to expand second-chance hiring opportunities.
The program’s partnership with the D.C. Office of Attorney General (OAG), which began in 2019, provides returning citizens with professional opportunities to apply their skills in real-world settings. As of 2025, 15 Fellows have successfully completed their placements at OAG, with five continuing at OAG as full-time employees. Paralegal program participants have played a key role in supporting OAG’s ability to respond to consumer and tenant complaints. The impact of the paralegal program participants was recognized when OAG awarded the MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program its 2024 Mission Critical Award.
Recent graduates of the program, who are currently completing their placements as Paralegal Specialists at OAG, reflected on their time at the office as both challenging and rewarding. Combined,
Alex Galarza, Kendra Young, and Mark Davis have worked on more than 1,000 cases and helped consumers save over $20,000 through reimbursements, removal of false debts, and assistance with denied home warranty claims and security deposits. They also lead weekly community outreach at the Department of Human Services Economic Support Centers, as well as at Martha’s Table and Bread for the City.
“It’s a lot of skills that I learned that I feel I could take to a new job, even if it’s just using applications like Microsoft Teams or Salesforce,” said Galarza. “We handle consumer complaints all day, every day. Whether it’s a business complaint, a landlord-tenant issue, or basically any problem a D.C. resident might have with an agency, property, or entity, we try to mediate and resolve it on their behalf.”
Fellows credit the structure and intensity of the MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program for preparing them for OAG’s fast-paced environment. “The intensity of the program prepared me for
sure,” said Davis. Young noted that the inclusion of Negotiation Works in the curriculum was particularly impactful because of the negotiation skills required to succeed in their roles working on behalf of D.C. residents. “Also, structure-wise, the program put me in the formality and mindset to be able to have great time management on a job,” said Young.
OAG is proud to be a second-chance employer and a longstanding partner of the MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program. The office values providing meaningful work in a professional environment and the opportunity for Fellows to grow the skills learned
in the program. OAG also benefits from the talent, drive, and dedication of the paralegals, a partnership that strengthens both the community and the local economy. Attorney General Brian Schwalb emphasized the importance of the collaboration: “As Attorney General for the District of Columbia, one of my primary goals is to make the District safer, healthier, and more equitable for all who live, visit, and work here. OAG is proud to provide a meaningful professional experience and career mentorship for qualified returning citizen graduates of this District program. We are especially proud of the meaningful contributions the MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program graduates make towards helping consumers and tenants across the District. OAG values being an active partner to PJI.”
Through this partnership, the MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program continues to provide returning citizens with the opportunity to make lasting contributions to the District of Columbia.
This article is featured in the 2025 Prisons and Justice Initiative Annual Report. Read the full report here.