Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship: Queens Defenders - Advocacy Intern
*** FEDERAL WORK STUDY STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY ***
***INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY ***
About the Organization:
Queens Defenders is the second largest public defender’s office located in Kew Gardens, New York. Originally founded as Queens Law Associates in 1996, Queens Defenders provides criminal defense representation and related services to individuals who find themselves in contact with the criminal justice system and cannot afford a private attorney.
Queens Defenders offers a holistic approach to criminal defense, providing immigration legal services for foreign national clients, and social services and counseling through our social worker’s team, in addition to high quality representation before the criminal court. Representing over 24,000 individuals each year, Queens Defenders serves the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, which includes six of the ten neighborhoods with the highest concentration of immigrants in New York City. Our areas of practice include criminal defense, major trials, treatment courts, domestic violence, felony youth, and immigration. Queens Defenders is committed to the zealous representation of our clients and advocating for criminal justice in Queens.
The Internship Site:
118-21 Queens Blvd
Forrest Hills, NY 11375
Responsibilities:
- Assist with the daily legal operations of a criminal defense practice.
- Assist with identifying treatment programs (social work team).
- Research and draft legal letters and memos for client files.
- Correspond and communicate with clients, attorneys and the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
- Update court files and legal database.
Requirements:
An undergraduate or graduate student who is highly organized, excellent time management skills, and willing to learn and be flexible. We are looking for a team player with a sense of humor who is committed to social justice.
The Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is pursuing a degree in pre-law, political science, criminal justice or an interest in the same. The candidate must be able to effectively work with diverse client populations. Spanish and Mandarin speakers (and speakers of other second languages) are a plus.