Closing Date: 28th December, 2026

Description:

Deadline is 3:00 PM EST for Date Listed
Dec 28, 2026

Job Description:
The law reform units of the Legal Aid Society (LAS) have opportunities for law school students to participate in LAS's ground-breaking work on impact litigation and policy initiatives that seek to address systemic issues facing Legal Aid's clients.

Criminal Defense Law Reform Team – This team has four internship programs. Candidates applying to the Criminal Law Reform team must indicate their unit/project preferences in their cover letter. The options are:

Special Litigation Unit
Prisoners' Rights Project
Incarcerated Client Services Unit
Decarceration Unit

Law Reform Unit of The Civil Practice (including Homeless Rights Unit)

Special Litigation and Law Reform Unit of The Juvenile Rights Practice

Lgbtq+ Law and Policy Initiative Unit

Each of these units engages in impact litigation, policy reform, coalition building, and public education strategies to grapple with novel legal issues arising in the daily practice of Legal Aid's direct services work. Interns applying to this position will be assigned to one of these units for the duration of their internship, depending on the preferences of the intern and the needs of the units.

Applicants should review The Legal Aid Society's website for more specific descriptions of the work of each of these units and identify in their application which unit or units they are interested in. Applicants will be offered positions depending on their preferences and the needs of the units.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:
These internships offer the opportunity to engage in various aspects of Legal Aid's law reform work, depending upon the specific needs of the unit to which the intern is assigned. This may include;

Legal research, factual research, and client interviewing
Participating in discovery and trial practice as opportunities arise
Contributing to legal papers, policy memos, or legislative testimony
Other duties as assigned

Interns will be asked to rank which of the law reform units they would most prefer to work in and will be matched depending on experience and organizational needs. Descriptions of each law reform unit can be found at https://legalaidnyc.org/programs-projects-units/?what-we-do=50.

Training and Qualifications:
Internships are open to 2L and 3L students in good standing. Applicants should demonstrate the following:

Interest in working on the issues affecting the rights of Legal Aid's clients, particularly tailored to the unit(s) prioritized by the applicant
Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
The ability to analyze complex legal and policy issues
The initiative to see projects through to completion
A commitment to racial and social justice

How to Apply 
All Applications Must Be Completed Online. We Do Not Accept Paper Submissions. Please Visit Our Careers Page to Review All Current Job Postings, and Instructions on The Application Process. for Technical Difficulties or Questions Regarding This Posting, Please Email Talent Acquisition@legal-Aid.Org.

Required Documents:
Please Submit These Documents as A Single Combined Pdf when You Apply via The Las (legal Aid Society) Recruitment Portal. Applicants, in The Cover Letter Be Sure to Identify One or More of The Law Reform Units of Interest. Applications Will Be Considered on A Rolling Basis, so Applicants Are Encouraged to Apply Early. Applicants Will Be Notified Whether They Have Been Selected for An Interview.

Resume
Cover Letter

Salary Transparency
As an Intern Position, This Role Has No Salary.

Stipends:
Interns Who Meet the Eligibility Criteria Have an Opportunity to Receive a $1,000 Stipend from The Howard Rossbach Fund. the Stipend Was Established in Memory of Judge J. Howard Rossbach, Attorney-In-Chief of The Legal Aid Society (1950-1952, 1953-1955), Whose Mentorship Encouraged Young Lawyers' Dedication to Civic Engagement Through Legal Aid. the J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend, Awarded Through a Lottery System, Aims to Support 4-5 Interns Annually Who Demonstrate Financial Need and Lack Funding for Their Internship at The Legal Aid Society. to Be Considered for This Stipend, Interns Must:

Be Enrolled as A Degree Seeking Undergraduate or Graduate Student at Any Accredited Institution
Ultimately Be Accepted to Participate in An Internship Program at Las
Demonstrate Financial Need
Lack Funding for Their Internship

Application Deadline (s):
Please Refer to The Deadline Listed on The Internship Description You Wish to Apply To.

Stipend Application:
To Be Considered for The J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend, Simultaneously Fill out The J. Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend Form During the Submission of Your Internship Application. only One Application per Applicant per Year Is Permitted. Please Do Not Submit Multiple Forms Even if You Are Applying for Multiple Internships. Selected Interns Will Be Notified Prior to The Start of Their Internships. the Stipend Will Be Treated as Taxable Income.

For Additional Information or Inquiries About the Internship Stipend, Please Reach out To Talent Acquisition@legal-Aid.Org.