Inside Legal Aid Society Internships: A Comprehensive Guide
The Legal Aid Society Internship Experience Explained
The Legal Aid Society is the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to providing free legal aid to individuals in need. Each year, they help hundreds of thousands of low-income and disadvantaged New Yorkers receive much-needed legal services. Legal Aid Society internships play a pivotal role with regard to the organizations ongoing ability to meet the growing demand for these services. Both part-time and full-time internships are available and the overall responsibilities and scope of each are split into legal internships and policy and administration internships. Legal interns work in one of a number of different units that may focus on customer relations , criminal defense, housing, immigration, juvenile rights and worker’s rights. Administrative interns can work in a variety of spaces as well from their Advancement Unit to their Human Resources Division. A Legal Aid Society internship is unique as interns receive job training and mentorship from top professionals, to say nothing of the invaluable experience gained. Internships are pursued through a number of different legal organizations.
The Perks of a Legal Aid Society Internship
The pursuit of a career in law is not for the weak of heart. An educational journey that can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years of study requires a significant investment of both time and money. Those who seek to turn their passion for the legal system into a profession often benefit from the opportunity to gain invaluable insights about the industry before embarking on a lifetime career thanks to summer legal aid society internships. Here are just three benefits of taking advantage of this unique kind of opportunity:
Gain Real-World Experience
Internships offer a way to bridge the gap between class and court to improve your understanding of the legal system. You’ll work side-by-side with real clients and conduct actual legal work while gaining valuable insights into the many crannies and niches of the legal world.
Benefit from Mentorship
Working an internship with a legal aid society means that you have access to legal professionals who can offer guidance, training, and insight into how to approach your long-term career goals. It also means developing lasting relationships with attorneys who can give you a firsthand look at how they got to where they are now.
Expose Yourself to Public Interest Law
Salaries for attorneys can range vast across the industry. While some attorneys enjoy lucrative paychecks, others earn less than the average working-class citizen. That being said, many legal professionals still enjoy work a great deal, especially those specializing in public interest law. If you have a vested interest in using your law degree to aid the community, interning with a legal aid society is a great way to gain the necessary experience to prepare you for a successful career in this specialized area.
Eligibility Criteria and Application Steps
Individuals seeking an internship must be committed to public interest and the legal services mission of the Legal Aid Society. Law students must have completed at least one year of law school. We do not hire incoming law school students for summer positions. Some offices and divisions prefer applicants to have completed two years of law school. Both law school interns and 3Ls seeking graduate internships should be eligible to sit for the bar exam and have taken or plan to take the New York State Bar Exam.
Legal Aid Society hires multidisciplinary interns, including, but not limited to, the following:
High School
College
Graduate and Professional School
Legal Aid Society must receive applications no later than the end of February in order to fill all positions by May. The Legal Aid Society does not accept applications for fall or spring internships. Applications for full-time summer positions must be received between January 15th and March 15th. Applications for part-time summer positions must be received between February 15th and April 30th. Interns are hired on a rolling basis. Applications for judicial internships must be received no later than February 15th. Interns are required to submit their position request forms by May 1st. We will not process intern position requests until we receive the intern application. Interns must not start work until they receive a confirmation letter from the Associate Director of Recruitment and Pro Bono.
We accept applications through our online application system only. Please do not submit hard copies of application materials by mail/fax. Applicants must complete a separate application for each office/division/internship. Prior experience is not necessary – we are looking for bright, ambitious students who want to make a difference.
Responsibilities and Duties Categories
Interns at a Legal Aid Society will typically find themselves within one of three distinct roles. Law student interns generally serve as law clerks, while those who have already graduated may serve as either law clerks or staff attorneys. Interns who have not yet reached their first year of law school may be eligible for undergraduate internships, though these positions can be more rare. Typical day to day duties are very similar across the roles. Law student interns spend a significant amount of time conducting legal research, managing files, drafting legal memos and interviewing clients. Staff attorneys are involved in many of the same activities, but also have a larger role in preparing and arguing cases, as well as supervising law student interns and support staff. Undergraduates may work with both staff attorneys and law student interns, providing research support and helping to draft legal memoranda and briefs.
Skills Acquired Through Legal Aid Society Internships
An internship with a Legal Aid Society can be a transformative experience for law students. Not only do these internships provide invaluable real-world experience working on cases, they also allow students the opportunity to develop key skills that will serve them well throughout their legal careers. One of the most important skills that students can gain from a Legal Aid Society internship is research. In addition to conducting student-led research on case law and statutes, interns learn from licensed attorneys how to dig deep and find all possible resources to support their cases. Some legal matters are more complex than they might at first appear, so gaining this research experience really helps interns know how to do all the work necessary to find a satisfactory resolution to even the toughest cases. Legal writing is another essential aspect of Legal Aid internship experiences. Through research, students learn how to cite properly and manage citations, and then apply their knowledge of legal writing and legal terminology to draft persuasive memos and motions. After careful expert review, these documents then stand as solid, useful products that may be used in serious legal work down the road. Strong critical thinking skills are equally important to legal success, and interns have many chances to practice and hone these skills while working on projects . These skills are particularly useful when it comes to helping clients. Legal Aid clients often have a range of complex issues to consider with regard to visas for new family members, protecting assets, filing taxes, or obtaining housing. Seeing how others have handled similar issues makes interns more effective at guiding others through their legal issues. Clients are often critical of their lawyers when faced with legal problems, so the ability to comfortably consult with clients and understand their issues and requests is essential. Interns may deal with a range of client issues, sometimes on very short notice, so the more practice they receive in dealing with clients, the better prepared they will be for their law career. Finally, Legal Aid interns gain a better understanding of legal processes through hands-on case management. Practicing tasks such as filing briefs, preparing forms, negotiating with other parties and so forth in real-world situations helps students to learn more about legal processes from both the prosecution and the defense point of view. This is a valuable addition to what students are typically taught in law school through classes on criminal and civil procedure. The flexibility of a Legal Aid Society internship, combined with real-world experience and skills development, makes this kind of opportunity a strong addition to any law student’s resume.
Challenges Faced and Overcoming Them
While legal aid internships can be incredibly rewarding both personally and professionally, they are not without their challenges. You may find yourself overwhelmed with the workload, especially during certain seasons of the year when an influx of cases occurs, leading to a backlog on the desks of legal aid attorneys. Alternatively, you may find the pace of the work slow at times, leaving you wishing you could be doing more to help. There is also the potential for emotional stress when dealing with clients who are in challenging situations and having to face the harsh realities of the legal system.
It’s crucial to be proactive in these situations rather than waiting for it to become unbearable. Speak to your attorney supervisor or other experienced staff members for advice on the matter. Don’t feel shy about asking for work, especially if you’re willing to take on "grunt" work or tasks like researching case law. This often leads to more responsibility and opportunity in the future.
Asking for help is also essential if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Supervisors will understand and can help you to find a more manageable workload. They also know the pace that is best for each legal aide and individual intern, so they are often keeping an eye on your situation. It’s also worth noting that many interns have felt the same struggles as you and have likely come up with a solution to the problem. Fellow interns may therefore be the best source of advice on how to get through a difficult period. One particularly good idea is to sort case files into three physical piles depending on urgency. Doing so will let you know precisely what you should be working on at a given time.
Finally, don’t be afraid to speak to someone outside of the job about emotional stress. This could be a staff member or another experienced intern if you’re comfortable, but doesn’t have to be. Legal aid work can be incredibly hard hitting, so you may find it a good idea to arrange a regular, visit to a therapist either through your university or externally. You could also consider using emotional services specifically tailored to lawyers, which are sometimes offered through professional organizations.
If you can navigate these challenges, you will consistently be able to provide valuable assistance to legal aid society workers. Additionally, you will leave with a better idea of how to advocate for the rights of those who are often unfairly treated under the law. As an intern, you will have the chance to make relationships with some of the most influential legal professionals out there. This role can be a game changer, as it proves to employers that you have real world law experience.
Career Impact and Opportunities Ahead
The impact of a Legal Aid Society internship on a law career can be significant, both in shaping a student’s future career path and in opening doors to new opportunities. A summer clerkship with a Legal Aid Society can lead to networking opportunities with attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals, which can be invaluable for landing post-graduation job offers or securing clerkships with federal or state judges.
Moreover, a Legal Aid Society internship can help law students develop a specialization in a particular area of law, such as family law, public benefits, or disability. This specialization can make them more attractive candidates for law firms or organizations that focus on those areas of practice.
In addition, an internship can help law students clarify their career goals and identify the types of cases that interest them most. This is especially true for those who did not have a specific area of law in mind when they started law school.
A Legal Aid Society internship can also provide valuable experience that can help propel graduate into leadership positions within their future organizations. For example, having the confidence and experience in the courtroom that comes with a summer clerkship can make a law student more competitive for post-graduate judicial clerkships or direct-hire positions with private law firms.
Finally, a Legal Aid Society internship can also help law students develop important soft skills, such as negotiation tactics, public speaking, and client interaction. These are critical components of any successful legal career, and a summer clerkship provides law students with the opportunity to hone these skills in a real-world setting.
Overall, a Legal Aid Society internship can greatly impact a law career, providing invaluable experience, valuable networking opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives.
Legal Aid Society Internship Testimonials
Alfred Knight interned at the Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Practice and has now been hired as a full-time staff attorney there. He described his experience: "I was immediately thrust into the action and exposed to a broad array of cases in my first week. I loved it. The opportunity to directly impact the lives of clients while helping fellow attorneys with heavy caseloads is what I wanted to experience and it was everything I thought it would be, and more. I’m proud to have contributed by providing the best legal service I could for our clients. I have now accepted a permanent position with the LASS Pro Bono Practice as a Staff Attorney with a focus on Family law, primarily Domestic & Sexual violence, and Child Protection."
"A huge thank you for everything you all did for me. I’ve really appreciated getting to know you and will continue to do so as time goes on! I know that without the support and mentorship from you all over these last couple of years , I would not have been in a position to succeed in securing a full time offer. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to intern after 1L, it has paid off for me in a big way!" – Jess Vidal, former Boston University Law School intern.
"Over the course of the Summer, I assisted two attorneys with preparing for trial in a complex criminal case involving a murder charge for which the defendant was facing life in prison. It was exciting to see various facets of that case develop and to find out that the defendant ultimately accepted a plea deal avoiding trial and saving the State the court costs and a jury the burden of having to deliberate over a murder charge. Whichever way the case ended up though, it was an amazing experience to see and be a part of. (We also handled other matters, but I will always remember my first case!)" – Destiny Whitfield, former University of Richmond School of Law intern.