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Internships & Law School Clinics

Internships

Our vibrant internship program helps us to expand our services and train the next generation of public interest lawyers. Interns handle substantive work across the breadth of our civil legal service practice areas and participate in comprehensive training. Ideal candidates will have excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, and a strong commitment to public interest law.

All internships are unpaid.

Our Covid-19 Policy requires all interns and volunteers to be vaccinated, absent an approved medical or religious accommodation.

Now accepting fall 2023 internship applicants.

Fall & Spring

Schedule: At least two days per week; 12 - 14 hours

Summer

Schedule: Full-time; ten weeks (Late May - Early August)

Recruitment Schedule

Fall: June 18 - August 31
Spring: September 1 - January 1
Summer: December 1 - March 31

Available Internships

Community Access Programs Intern

The Community Access Programs are comprised of several programs focused on community outreach. Interns may assist across all the Community Access Programs but primarily serve the Mobile Legal Help Center project. The Mobile Legal Help Center is an innovative joint project of NYLAG and the New York State Courts’ Access to Justice Program. The Mobile Legal Help Center operates the country’s first-ever legal services office on wheels that travels directly to underserved communities to bring free, civil legal services to individuals in New York City and Long Island. Attorneys provide counseling, advice, and direct representation without leaving the vehicle. The Mobile Legal Help Center travels throughout the five boroughs and parts of Long Island, focusing on areas with limited public transportation options. The Mobile Legal Help Center helps New Yorkers in need of legal help to overcome obstacles such as geographic isolation, health and mobility issues, and childcare concerns. Interns with Community Access Programs will help staff the van weekly (dependent on COVID protocols in place at any given time) and conduct intakes in all areas of law that NYLAG practices. Interns also assist Community Access Program attorneys who practice in housing, employment, and immigration law with drafting documents, conducting research, advocacy with administrative agencies, and shadowing at court appearances.

Consumer Protection Unit Intern

The Consumer Protection Unit supports unrepresented litigants in consumer debt cases in New York City’s Civil Courts. Interns will have the opportunity to represent clients in court, negotiate with opposing counsel, and argue before a judge. The legal intern will appear in court in defense of debt collection actions (under attorney supervision), perform legal research, draft motion papers, create legal self-help and reference materials, work directly with clients, conduct client intakes, and more. Some light administrative work is expected, such as entering client data into our client database.

Foreclosure Prevention Project Intern

The Foreclosure Prevention Project provides legal representation and community education for homeowners facing foreclosure and other risks to homeownership. The project assists clients with all aspects of foreclosure defense litigation, deed transfers, and real estate contracts, closings, and short sale applications. Intern responsibilities include: virtual and in-person client intakes and interviews at foreclosure clinics on Long Island and the five boroughs, attending settlement conferences and court appearances, conducting legal research, submitting mortgage modification applications, and other homeowner program applications needed to avoid foreclosure. Strong preference for fluent Spanish speakers.

Taxi Advocacy Project Intern

Interns will work with the Consumer Protection Unit, specifically on the Taxi Advocacy Project. These interns will work closely with yellow taxi medallion owners in the restructuring of their taxi medallion loans. Based on experience, interns may be tasked with conducting intakes, working with clients, and/or general administrative work to support the Consumer Protection Unit. Depending on interest, these interns will also have the opportunity to support the Foreclosure Project and to attend court. This is not a remote position. Students need to be available to travel throughout the five boroughs for various offsite matters. Preference (this is not a requirement) for students who speak any of the following languages: Haitain Creole, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Spanish, and Mandarin. Preference for law student applicants, but undergraduate students will be considered as well.

Volunteer Lawyer for a Day (VLFD) Intern

Thousands of New Yorkers are summoned to court by debt collectors and only about 1% of consumer debt defendants are represented by counsel. In contrast, ALL plaintiff creditors are represented by counsel. These defendants have nowhere to turn to for legal advice or representation and are forced to navigate the court process alone. The Volunteer Lawyer for a Day program provides limited scope representation to these defendants during their court appearance. Volunteers will receive consumer law training, on-site supervision from the coordinating attorney and the opportunity to assist litigants in piecing their financial lives back together. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with a client and appear before a judge in a supervised single-day program. Cases are in Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. This project is open to both law students and lawyers. The position includes maintaining case data in our legal database and other consumer debt-related work and projects as needed.

Domestic Violence Law Unit, Law School Intern

Domestic Violence Law Unit legal interns have extensive client contact, draft petitions and motions, provide litigation assistance, and attend court proceedings throughout the internship under the supervision of a NYLAG attorney. Legal interns will assist petitioners with orders of protection through the Family Offense Project (FOP) in Family Court, and will work on a variety of matters on their supervising attorney(s)’ docket including contested and uncontested divorces, custody and visitation, spousal and child support, and immigration matters under the Violence Against Women Act. Strong preference for fluent speakers in Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, Urdu, Russian, Hebrew, or Bengali speakers.

Employment Law Intern

The Employment Law Project provides representation in cases involving wage and hour issues (including overtime, unpaid wages, and minimum wage claims), as well as a broad range of other employment law issues. Intern responsibilities will include: client interviewing, legal research and writing, and drafting demand letters and complaints. Strong preference for fluent Spanish speakers.

Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program Intern

The Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program advocates at the intersection of health and disability law on behalf of older persons and younger people with disabilities who, because of chronic health conditions and poverty, need access to Medicaid home care and other long-term care to avoid being forced into a nursing home. Medicare does not provide these services at all, and has high cost-sharing that Medicaid subsidizes. Interns will help clients navigate the complex Medicaid eligibility rules and procedural hurdles, and the systemic barriers that incentivize Medicaid-funded insurance plans to deny home care services to those who need them. The intern will do intake, counseling, case investigation, and legal research, draft legal memoranda, medical affidavits and testimony, and represent client at a Fair Hearing or in other administrative advocacy. The intern may also participate in coalitions engaged in policy and legislative advocacy, prepare materials for and conduct legal education presentations for consumers, and develop materials for nyhealthaccess.org. Strong preference for fluent Russian or Spanish speaker.

Federal Legal Clinic Intern (SDNY)

The Federal Legal Clinic (SDNY) helps at all stages of federal litigation to persons representing themselves in an incredibly diverse range of cases including civil rights, employment discrimination, labor law, intellectual property, social security benefits, and fair housing law. This diversity of cases and litigants provides volunteers with a unique opportunity to gain practical experience “thinking like a lawyer” and solving a variety of legal and non-legal issues while working directly with litigants. Interns have extensive contact with litigants by conducting initial intake interviews, providing legal consultations to clients under the supervision of an attorney, and interviewing clients to gather facts for written submissions to the federal court. Interns also write for a range of audiences including briefs for court, other litigation documents, and guides, templates, and fact sheets for litigants. This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in federal litigation, direct legal services, or policy work.

Immigration Legal Intern

Immigrant Protection Unit interns provide direct client services, including application assistance for naturalization, self-petitions for domestic violence victims, T visas for victims of human trafficking, U visas for victims of crimes, other affirmative and humanitarian-based applications, and in some instances, applications for asylum. The internship provides the opportunity for extensive legal research as well as drafting comprehensive legal memoranda. Finally, interns also have the opportunity to be involved in community outreach and other project-based initiatives. Strong preference for fluent Spanish speakers.

Special Litigation Unit Intern

The Special Litigation Unit (SLU) collaborates with NYLAG attorneys across practice areas to develop and litigate complex impact litigations that advance social, racial, and economic justice, addressing the full range of legal areas in which NYLAG serves clients. Alone, or in partnership with other not-for-profit organizations and private firms working pro-bono, we initiate class actions and other impact lawsuits to bring about systemic change for thousands of people in need. Interns will work on a broad range of substantive issues, including public benefits, consumer protection, and special education. SLU interns will conduct legal research and factual investigation, interview and advocate on behalf of class members, draft legal memoranda and court documents, and assist with motion practice and discovery in pending lawsuits. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend court proceedings and/or case-related strategy meetings and conferences. Writing sample required.

LGBTQ Law Project Intern

The LGBTQ Law Project serves New York City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities by providing free representation and advice on a wide array of civil legal matters and offering group trainings on legal issues affecting the LGBTQ community. The LGBTQ Law Project provides free representation in the following areas: housing and family law matters, including orders of protection, second parent adoptions, custody and visitation, divorces, legal name changes, immigration issues, orders of protection, public benefits, estate matters, advance directives, housing and employment discrimination, and more. Intern responsibilities will include working directly with clients; intake; client interviews; maintaining and updating client files; legal research; and drafting and filing court and client documents. Strong preference for fluent Spanish speakers.

LegalHealth Unit Intern

As one of the nation’s largest medical-legal partnerships, staff at NYLAG’s LegalHealth division work to solve clients’ legal needs by addressing social determinants of health in a healthcare setting. Operating a community-based model, LegalHealth staff meet their clients on site at the hospitals and community-based medical centers where those clients are are comfortable and have existing support. LegalHealth works with the hospital staff to create holistic care plans that address all of a client’s needs. LegalHealth’s practice areas include immigration, insurance and access to public benefits, veterans work, housing, end of life planning, cancer care, and more.

Advance Planning Practice Intern

NYLAG’s Advance Planning Practice helps New Yorkers with limited means plan for all stages of life. Our team provides representation, advocacy, and advice on guardianship, wills, and estates matters so that clients can preserve their individual rights and maintain their independence. Interns will work with an attorney to intake new clients; screen for legal capacity; prepare documents such as powers of attorney, health care proxies and wills; and compose guardianship petitions in appropriate cases. We regularly conduct home visits for clients who are physically unable to travel to our offices. Strong preference for applicants with Spanish fluency. This position requires a commitment of 7 hours (1 day) per week.

Elder Law Intern

Interns in the Elder Law Practice will work closely with attorneys to provide direct elder law services to seniors with low income. Elder Law’s primary focus is obtaining health care and ensuring that clients’ wishes are followed through advanced life planning. Interns will gain a familiarity with public health insurance options and appeals; long term care in the home; the use of Supplemental Needs Trusts for disabled individuals; and many planning documents, including powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills, and last wills and testaments.

Health Law Intern

The Health Law Practice provides advice and representation to individuals throughout New York City related to Medicare, Medicaid and other public health insurance programs and serves as the principal public health insurance resource for the Public Benefit Unit’s broader benefits work. An intern in the Health Law Practice will conduct phone intakes, advocate with government agencies to assist clients secure health insurance related benefits/services, conduct legal research, and support attorneys/paralegals in the Health Law practice.

Veterans Practice Intern

Interns in the Veterans Practice will work closely with NYLAG staff to provide direct legal services to United States military veterans. The Veterans Practice is focused on helping veterans secure the compensation and benefits they earned through their dedicated service to our country. Interns will become familiar with the eligibility, procedural, and evidentiary requirements for VA disability benefit claims and DOD discharge upgrades. Interns will have the opportunity to work on applications and appeals by gathering and reviewing evidence, drafting legal briefs and memoranda, and communicating directly with veteran clients. The Veterans Practice provides an opportunity to learn about legal protections for veterans, federal and state veterans’ benefits, and the landscape of social service providers in NYC.

Special Education Intern

Special Education interns will address such matters as the adequacy of child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), the appropriateness of child’s school placement, and a child’s need for related services, such as speech and language therapy. Intern responsibilities will include client interviewing, maintaining client files, legal writing and research.

Tenants’ Rights Intern

Tenants’ Rights Unit interns will get hands-on experience conducting every aspect of eviction defense litigation, including client intake interviews, engaging in deadline-sensitive research to support Housing Court motion practice, drafting Housing Court motions, and, if the intern is ready, arguing motions in court. Interns will accompany attorneys to Housing Court appearances on a regular basis and participate in negotiations with opposing counsel to settle cases. Interns will also engage in affirmative litigation to assert tenants’ rights under rent stabilization laws and to ensure tenants’ apartments are safe and habitable. Finally, interns will work on administrative law matters to help clients resolve issues with public housing, help seniors and/or disabled tenants freeze their rent, and resolve problems with housing subsidies. Strong preference for fluent Russian or Spanish speakers.

NYCHA Defense Team Intern

NYLAG’s NYCHA Defense Team is New York City’s first-ever group of attorneys solely dedicated to defending the rights of public housing tenants. NYCHA Defense Team interns will get hands-on experience conducting every aspect of eviction defense litigation, including client intake interviews, engaging in deadline-sensitive research, second-chairing termination hearings, and drafting closing memorandums of law and Housing Court motions (and, if the intern is ready, arguing motions in court). Interns will accompany attorneys to Housing Court and OIH appearances on a regular basis and participate in negotiations with opposing counsel to settle cases. Strong preference for fluent Russian or Spanish speakers and applicants who have lived in public housing.

Volunteer Program Intern

The Volunteer Program intern will work closely with the Pro Bono and Volunteer Unit to support the overall mission of the organization by increasing volunteer engagement and improving NYLAG’s capacity to support clients. This intern will be assigned a variety of administrative tasks and assignments that may include special events assistance, data entry, data management projects, organizing files, creative projects, and research. This intern will have the opportunity to support NYLAG as we relaunch our Language Access Volunteer program. This is an ideal role for a student with an interest in pursuing a career in nonprofit management and learning generally about public interest law.

Law School Clinics & Externships

A two-semester clinical program available to second and third-year law students at St. John’s University School of Law and Brooklyn Law School. Students learn the basics of economic justice and the law, including how to address the needs of people living in poverty, people with disabilities and people experiencing homelessness attempting to navigate the social safety net.

To apply, send resume, cover letter, and writing sample (if requested) with desired internship in the subject line.

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