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 2026 and will be 10 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 DC’s Reentry Justice Project is dedicated to assisting clients facing barriers in accessing housing, employment, and other civil rights and opportunities as a result of having a criminal record. We provide representation to clients in areas including criminal record sealing, housing and employment denials based on criminal history, and challenges to other collateral consequences arising within our civil legal practice areas. We also advocate for policy changes before the D.C. Council, administrative agencies, and other legislative and regulatory bodies.
Responsibilities:
Conduct criminal case searches for record sealing applicants to determine the extent of their record and to assess what is eligible for sealing relief.
Under the guidance of supervisors, meet with and interview clients to learn their story and develop the necessary facts for motions to seal their criminal records.
Assist attorneys in requesting and obtaining clients' police and court records.
Under the guidance of supervisors, draft motions to seal criminal records.
Attend Reentry project meetings, skills workshops, Legal Aid staff meetings
Scholarship Funding:
Legal Aid DC can provide scholarship funding to ensure that summer law students receive no less than $6,283 per summer, including scholarships from the Lee Horton Memorial Scholarship for Aspiring Public Interest Lawyers.
Summer law students are required to apply for outside funding to fund their internships in order to receive supplemental scholarship funding. We will provide a scholarship up to $6,283 to summer law school interns when:
They attend a school that does not provide funding OR they are not approved for at least $6,283 of funding from their schools
AND
They do not get funding from any other outside sources that gets them to total funding of $6,283 for the summer
Example: if a student receives $5,000 of outside funding, Legal Aid will pay them $1,283 in scholarship funding.
Students may waive funding if they are prohibited from receiving renumeration by their law school.
Current law school student or graduate interested in public interest and or consumer law.
Legal Aid values an inclusive, diverse workplace and encourages applications from interested persons from diverse backgrounds of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.
We strongly encourage applications from people with personal experience with the criminal justice system and/or with lived experiences in the communities we serve.
Submit your application, cover letter, resume, writing sample and transcript or letter of matriculation here. Applications will be accepted until 5:00pm November 4, 2025.
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