Closing Date: 31st January, 2025
Description:
Since 1932, Legal Aid has provided civil legal assistance to clients in individual cases and engaged in systemic reform. Currently, we provide individual representation in consumer law, domestic violence/family law, housing, public benefits, and appellate matters. We also work on immigration matters and help individuals with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. From the experiences of our clients, we identify opportunities for law reform, public policy advocacy, and systemic impact and appellate litigation.Legal Aid believes that meaningful pursuit of our anti-poverty mission requires an unwavering commitment to racial justice and equity. We aspire both to reflect the rich racial diversity of the communities we serve and to value, respect, and empower our staff and clients to be effective agents of change. For more information about Legal Aid please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org.
This internship is for Summer 2025 and will be 10.5 weeks in duration. Interns at Legal Aid DC have the unique opportunity to receive substantive assignments that will have an immediate impact on our clients. Interns work out of Legal Aid's offices in NW DC, with the option to perform some work remotely if approved by their supervisor. Summer interns should expect to work full time.
Legal Aid has a broad and energetic Public Benefits Unit where interns have the opportunity to work with a number of attorneys and public benefits specialists. The unit helps families and individuals overcome legal barriers to accessing essential safety net benefits such as Unemployment Insurance, Social Security, SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and DC HealthCare Alliance. The intern will provide substantive, administrative and project support for the Public Benefits Unit. The intern will report to a staff attorney in the Public Benefits Unit.
Responsibilities:
- Performing legal and factual research for unit attorneys
- Writing briefs, client correspondence, and third-party letters/statements, and other forms of legal writing
- Calling local government offices with clients to determine the status of their benefits (including the DC Health Care Ombuds Office, the Department of Human Services, the Social Security Administration)
- Reviewing medical records
- Drafting flyers or other pro se materials
- Conducting intakes and follow up interviews with applicants
- Observing the activities of unit attorneys, including administrative hearings and substantive client calls
- Attending unit meetings and Legal Aid DC all staff meetings
- Observing and taking notes at meetings and hearings for the benefit of the unit
Requirements: Enrollment in law school and interest in public interest law. Interest in or experience with public benefits programs preferred.
