Internships - Spring and Summer 2019

You are here

Job location
100 Court Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York
Street address: 
95 Central Avenue
City: 
Albany
State: 
New York
ZIP: 
12206
Job type: 
Fellowship/Internship
Position Description: 

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK
2019 SPRING AND SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York provides effective, free civil legal services and education to and advocacy for people with low income or other barriers to accessing the legal system. We secure basic needs, protect and preserve legal rights, provide equal access to justice and seek fairness and dignity for all our clients. We serve the low-income and needy residents of Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties and the St. Regis Reservation.

Application Deadlines:

Spring Internships – December 31, 2018
Summer Internships – March 30, 2019

Internship Descriptions – All internships are offered in the Spring and Summer of 2019 unless otherwise noted.

Disability Advocacy Project Intern – Albany Office
DAP advocates represent clients with physical and mental impairments including, but not limited to clients suffering from intellectual limitations, anxiety, depression, HIV, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, musculoskeletal impairments, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. DAP advocates review medical, educational, and vocational records to argue if adults and children meet the rules for a finding of disability as defined by the Social Security Administration. DAP law clerks will have the opportunity to perform research and writing for federal court cases, administrative appeals, and administrative hearings. They will also call clients, observe meetings and hearings, and assist attorneys in preparation for hearings. All work performed by DAP law clerks are also performed by the DAP attorneys in our office.

Housing Law Intern- Albany Office
The intern will assist staff attorneys with landlord/tenant cases, which could include assisting with our Attorney for the Day Program in Schenectady City Court. The intern will be involved in drafting pleadings and correspondence, conducting client interviews and contacting clients, case development, research and legal assessment, and accompanying attorneys to court and administrative hearings in landlord/tenant cases. Attorney for the Day is a program in which tenants who are facing an eviction sign up to be screened by Legal Aid. The goal of the project is to provide tenants with counsel and ideally prevent or delay their eviction. The intern on this project would assist with completing intakes for tenants who sign up and would work with court personnel to ensure that tenants who sign up are screened for eligibility. As needed, the intern will assist with work that needs to be done with the clients after the initial court work has concluded. Interns may be asked to assist staff in other areas of law as needed.

Housing/Generalist Intern – Amsterdam Office
The Intern on this project would assist the Housing attorneys and intake staff to provide housing representation in the Amsterdam office. The Intern will interview clients and witnesses, investigate claims and defenses, advocate with officials and county departments, draft responsive pleadings and affirmative defenses, and assist in trial preparation and presentation. The Intern will work on eviction defenses, warranty of habitability cases, and administrative advocacy to secure housing-related public benefits, including ongoing and emergency cash assistance and eligibility for HUD subsidies. The Intern may be asked to assist staff in other practices of law as needed.

Housing/Generalist Intern – Plattsburgh Office
The Intern on this project would assist the Housing attorney and intake staff to provide housing representation in the Plattsburgh office catchment area. The Intern will interview clients and witnesses, investigate claims and defenses, advocate with officials and county departments, draft responsive pleadings and affirmative defenses, and assist in trial preparation and presentation. The Intern will work on eviction defenses, warranty of habitability cases, and administrative advocacy to secure housing-related public benefits, including ongoing and emergency cash assistance and eligibility for HUD subsidies. The Intern may be asked to assist staff in other practices of law as needed.

Immigration Law Intern – Albany Office
Intern’s duties include interviewing clients by phone and in person; identifying and investigating legal issues; researching immigration, public benefits, and criminal law; drafting advocacy letters to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and drafting letters to clients. Intern will also assist in preparing applications for: permanent resident status, work permits, and humanitarian visas for victims of serious crimes, including victims of domestic violence.

HIV/AIDS Law Consortium Intern – Albany Office – Spring 2019 only
The intern will assist in LASNNY’s HIV/AIDS Law Consortium (HALC) program. The HALC program provides legal services to clients living with HIV/AIDS. HALC advocates assist with a wide range of civil matters, including Social Security, housing, end-of-life planning (wills, living wills, health care proxies, and powers of attorney), public benefits, and consumer protection. The intern will be directly supervised by the HALC senior attorney. The intern may also receive assignments from other Legal Aid attorneys and programs. Intern responsibilities include but are not limited to calling clients and medical/social services providers; legal research and writing; document review and analysis; drafting legal documents and correspondence; assisting staff attorneys in hearing/trial preparation; attending client interviews, meetings, and hearings.

Foreclosure Prevention Project Intern – Albany Office
The Foreclosure Prevention Project (FPP) provides legal assistance to low income homeowners facing foreclosure. In addition to mortgage foreclosures, the FPP also assists eligible homeowners in tax foreclosure proceedings, and post-foreclosure evictions, as well as land contract matters and tenants residing in foreclosed properties. The intern will be supervised by the Managing Attorney of the FPP. Intern responsibilities include but are not limited to client contact; legal research and writing; document review and analysis; investigation; drafting legal documents and correspondence; attending client interviews, meetings, and court appearances.

Unemployment and Social Security Intern- Albany Office
The intern will be responsible for conducting client interviews and contacting clients, requesting medical records, assisting clients with SSI/SSD applications, and researching applicable law. Intern will also accompany attorneys to court hearings.

General Information:

Hiring Criteria
Current law student or recent graduate. Commitment to providing legal services to the poor. Excellent research and writing skills. Ability to work well under stress and time pressure. Prior relevant experience in legal services to the poor, especially law school clinical experience, and ability to speak Spanish is a plus. Must have a valid, clean driver’s license. For the summer, we require a student to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. For fall/spring semester internships, a minimum commitment of 10 or 12 hours per week is required. All internships are unpaid.

Location(s): Albany, Amsterdam and Plattsburgh, New York

Opportunities:

• Internships at LASNNY count toward the 50-hour pro bono requirement for New York State Bar Admission.
• Internships may be used as a field placement for credit, if approved by the student’s law school. Eligible students may also have an opportunity to practice under a student practice order.
• Interns also generally gain experience in interacting with clients; researching and writing both court documents and client correspondence; attending court appearances, administrative hearings, or other meetings, and exposure to a law firm environment.
• Students are encouraged to research funding options through the Career Center at their law school or from outside funding organizations. The Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps JD program provides law students with funding on a case by case basis depending on funding availability.

Application Deadlines:

Spring Internships – December 31, 2018
Summer Internships – March 30, 2019

To apply, please go to www.lasnny.org OR

1) Complete the Application linked here, or the mobile-friendly application linked here
2) Complete the Demographic Survey linked here

Documents required: Cover Letter (cover letter should state what program(s) are of interest to applicant), Resume, and Writing Sample.

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, the elderly, LGBTQ, Protected Veterans and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Contact Information:

Robert R. Romaker, Esq.
Managing Attorney
95 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
[email protected]

Requirements: 

Hiring Criteria
Current law student or recent graduate. Commitment to providing legal services to the poor. Excellent research and writing skills. Ability to work well under stress and time pressure. Prior relevant experience in legal services to the poor, especially law school clinical experience, and ability to speak Spanish is a plus. Must have a valid, clean driver’s license. For the summer, we require a student to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. For fall/spring semester internships, a minimum commitment of 10 or 12 hours per week is required. All internships are unpaid.

To apply: 

Application Deadlines:

Spring Internships – December 31, 2018
Summer Internships – March 30, 2019

To apply, please go to www.lasnny.org OR

1) Complete the Application linked here, or the mobile-friendly application linked here
2) Complete the Demographic Survey linked here

Documents required: Cover Letter (cover letter should state what program(s) are of interest to applicant), Resume, and Writing Sample.

Notes: 
We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, the elderly, LGBTQ, Protected Veterans and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Submission deadline: 
Sunday, March 31, 2019