Job Title: Civil Practice Legal Intern, 2L – Summer 2026
Job Responsibilities:
The position of Civil Practice Legal Intern at the organization involves several key responsibilities aimed at supporting the organization's mission to assist low-income New Yorkers. Interns will work under the supervision of Civil Practice attorneys and will be engaged in various legal tasks. These responsibilities include:
- Drafting motions, pleadings, memoranda of law, and affidavits.
- Conducting legal research.
- Attending court and administrative hearings alongside attorneys.
- Assisting with client interviews.
- Performing other duties as assigned.
Interns will gain practical experience in handling a wide range of legal issues including anti-eviction, domestic violence, family law, immigration, employment, tax, health, elder law, HIV/AIDS, and consumer law.
Education and Experience Information:
To be eligible for the Civil Practice Legal Intern position, candidates must meet the following educational and experience requirements:
- Must be a current law school student in good standing, specifically a 2L (second-year law student).
- 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, meet deadlines, and think critically.
- Fluency in languages besides English, particularly Spanish, is helpful but not required.
Additionally, 1L law students will become eligible to apply for Summer 2026 internships starting December 2, 2025.
Salary Information:
This internship is a non-paid position, meaning there is no salary associated with the role. However, there is an opportunity for interns who meet certain eligibility criteria to receive a stipend through the Howard Rossbach fund. The stipend, established in memory of Judge J. Howard Rossbach, is awarded through a lottery system to support 4-5 interns annually who demonstrate financial need and lack funding for their internship at the organization. The stipend amount is $1,000 and will be treated as taxable income.
Stipends & Benefits:
- Interns may receive a $1,000 stipend from the Howard Rossbach fund if eligible.
- To qualify, interns must be enrolled as degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students at any accredited institution.
- Applicants must complete the Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend Form at the time of submitting their internship application.
- Interns must demonstrate financial need and a lack of funding for their internship.
- A statement reflecting the student’s strong interest in working at the organization upon graduation is required.
- The stipend application must be submitted simultaneously with the internship application, and only one application per applicant per year is permitted.
The role is not benefits eligible, as it is an intern position.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
The organization is committed to fostering a work culture that emphasizes zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice, and excellent representation. The organization values building strong professional relationships with clients, understanding their diverse circumstances, and meeting their needs. The organization's success in achieving these goals is reliant on the collective efforts of its staff.
Application Process:
Applicants interested in applying to the Housing Justice Unit should submit their applications exclusively to that unit. For other Civil Practice Units, applicants should list their preferences in order. The available units include:
- 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
All applications must be completed online through the organization's Careers Page. Paper submissions are not accepted. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the application process, applicants can contact the organization via email.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, the organization prohibits discriminatory employment actions and treatment of its employees and applicants based on a wide range of characteristics protected by law, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and more.
Required Documents:
Applicants must submit a Cover Letter and Resume as a single PDF. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and early application is encouraged. Applicants will be notified whether they have been selected for an interview.
Location:
This position is citywide, encompassing various NYC Borough offices and specialized units.
