Job Description

The Legal Aid Society’s Civil Practice has non-paid internships in its various NYC Borough offices and specialized units for Spring 2027. Legal interns assist the Civil Practice attorneys, who work to improve the lives of low-income New Yorkers by helping vulnerable families and individuals obtain and maintain the basic necessities of life – housing, health care, food, and subsistence income or self-sufficiency. The attorneys enhance family and community stability and security by resolving a full range of legal problems, including but not limited to anti-eviction, domestic violence, family law, immigration, employment, tax, health, elder law, HIV/AIDS, and consumer law issues.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking dynamic, passionate, and creative legal interns committed to our mission. Interns will work directly under the supervision of Civil Practice attorneys. Duties may include: drafting motions, pleadings, memoranda of law, and affidavits; conducting legal research; attending court and administrative hearings with attorneys; assisting with client interviews; other duties as assigned.

• Current law school student in good standing – only 2Ls and 3Ls
• Relevant clinical program or work experience is preferred, but not required
• Demonstrated commitment to and interest in serving racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities
• Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with all members of the staff
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and think critically
• Fluency in languages besides English, in particular Spanish, is helpful but not required

SALARY TRANSPARENCY

As an intern position, this role has no salary.

STIPENDS

Interns who meet the eligibility criteria have an opportunity to receive a $1,000 stipend from the Howard Rossbach fund. The Stipend was established in memory of Judge J. Howard Rossbach, Attorney-in-Chief of The Legal Aid Society (1950-1952, 1953-1955), whose mentorship encouraged young lawyers’ dedication to civic engagement through legal aid. The J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend, awarded through a lottery system, aims to support 4-5 interns annually who demonstrate financial need and lack funding for their internship at The Legal Aid Society. To be considered for this stipend, interns must:

• Applicants must be enrolled as a law student at any accredited institution
• Ultimately be accepted to participate in an internship program at LAS
• Demonstrate financial need
• Lack funding for their internship

Application deadline (s):

Please refer to the deadline listed on the internship description you wish to apply to.

Stipend application:

To be considered for the J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend, simultaneously fill out the J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend Form during the submission of your internship application. Only one application per applicant per year is permitted. Please do not submit multiple forms even if you are applying for multiple internships. Selected interns will be notified prior to the start of their internships. The stipend will be treated as taxable income.

For additional information or inquiries about the internship stipend, please reach out to TalentAcquisition@Legal-aid.org.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

As an intern position, this role is not benefits eligible.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply.

• Cover Letter
• Resume

In the cover letter demonstrate your commitment to public interest law and include a ranked list of no more than three units, in order of preference. See the unit listing below. (NOTE: We may not be able to place you in one of your preferred units.) Please do not apply to any unit listed as (CLOSED). They have filled their internships for Spring 2027

• Community Development Project
• Consumer Law Project
• Education Law Project
• Employment Law Unit
• Family Law/Domestic Violence Practice
• Foreclosure Prevention Project
• Government Benefits
• Disability Advocacy Practice
• Health Law Unit (HLU)
• HIV/AIDS Representation Project (H/ARP)
• Housing Justice Unit - Group Advocacy Housing Practice
• Housing Justice Unit - Tenant Defense
• Housing Justice Unit - Housing Helpline
• Immigration Law Unit
• Low Income Taxpayer Clinic Project
• Training and Professional Development Team

Applicants will be notified whether they have been selected for an interview. Our hiring process is extremely competitive, and we encourage students to apply early.

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings, and instructions on the application process.

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@Legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us.