Funded by Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship: Summer 2023 Legal Intern at NY Legal Assistance Group
Organization Name: New York Legal Assistance Group
Intern Role/Title: Summer 2023 Legal Intern
Organization Website: www.nylag.org
Address: 100 Pearl Street, 19th Floor, New York NY 10004
On-site/Hybrid Format? Hybrid
Duration and Compensation: 35 hours/week for 8 weeks FT/ $19 hour
About the Organization: NYLAG fights for fair and equal access to justice for those who need it most. Founded in 1990, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a leading civil legal services organization combatting economic, racial, and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis. Our services include comprehensive, free civil legal services, financial empowerment, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. NYLAG exists because wealth should not determine who has access to justice. We aim to disrupt systemic racism by serving individuals and families whose legal and financial crises are often rooted in racial inequality. NYLAG goes to where the need is, providing services in more than 150 community sites (e.g. courts, hospitals, libraries) and on our Mobile Legal Help Center. During COVID- 19, most of our services are virtual to keep our community safe. NYLAG’s staff of 350 impacted the lives of nearly 112,000 people last year.
Position Overview: Our summer internship program offers students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the non- profit sector and to learn about public interest law in New York City. Students typically work in our main office or offsite clinics, hospitals, and community- based organizations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our 2022 Summer Internship Program will be partly remote, but there will be in-person and/or hybrid opportunities made available. NYLAG Summer Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with experienced attorneys and our administrative staff in at least one of the following units: Consumer Protection, Domestic Violence Law, Elder Law, Employment Law, Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program, Federal Legal Clinic, Foreclosure Prevention Project, Health Law, Immigrant Protection, LegalHealth, LGBTQ Law, Mediation Project, Mobile Legal Help Center, Special Education, Special Litigation, Tenants’ Rights, Veterans Practice, and Administration Units.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Interns will be placed in one of the above-mentioned units based on their particular interests and unit availability. Depending on the unit placement, intern responsibilities may include: providing litigation and administration assistance to attorneys and paralegals, including assisting with intake, client communication, and administrative support for various cases. Interns may have the opportunity to attend and observe court proceedings and client interviews. Some light administrative work is expected, such as entering client data into our client database.
Intern will also get to participate in additional educational opportunities, trainings, and social events alongside other NYLAG Summer Interns.
Preferred Skills:
Applicants should have excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, and a strong commitment to public interest law. Other skills we are looking for include:
· Excellent research, writing and analytical skills
· Strong commitment to public interest law
· Superior communication (oral, written, and presentation) skills
· Professional presence and demeanor
· Spanish speaking ability preferred (not required)
The Ideal Candidate is:
An ideal NYLAG Summer Legal Intern is someone who has a commitment to public interest law and a demonstrated connection to NYLAG’s mission and values. Our most successful internships have occurred when applicants express a specific interest in a particular unit or program offered at NYLAG. We encourage everyone who is looking to explore a career in the non-profit sector and/or public interest law to apply.