|
The Law Students in Action Project (LSAP) has 35-40 openings in its Summer Associate Program. Internships are available in the following substantive areas: - child advocacy,
- consumer rights,
- disability,
- education,
- elder law,
- employment,
- family law and domestic violence,
- farmworker rights,
- health law,
- housing,
- immigration,
- non-profit management,
- prisoner re-entry, and
- public benefits.
Applications will be considered and placements filled on a rolling basis until Friday, February 6, 2009.
Index
What is LSAP?
Placement Descriptions: Legal Assistance of Western New York Empire Justice Center Farmworker Legal Services of New York Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York Legal Aid Society of Rochester Monroe County Conflict Defender Office Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Program Information:
What is LSAP? LSAP is the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Pro Bono Legal Corps project of Legal Assistance of Western New York (LAWNY). LSAP provides law students with pro bono internships in the seven LAWNY offices located in Rochester, the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier of New York. Interns may also work in the Rochester offices of the Empire Justice Center, the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, Farmworker Legal Services of New York, the Monroe County Conflict Defender Office, and Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, as well as the Binghamton office of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York and the Albany office of Empire Justice Center. The Summer Associate Program LSAP is looking for 35-40 dedicated, hardworking and public interest-minded students for its Summer Associate Program. Summer Associates are expected to work a minimum of 30 hours per week for at least 10 weeks in a given 12 week timeframe. Some placements may allow for part-time work and are indicated as such. The Summer Associate Program will begin on May 28, 2008 with a one-day mandatory orientation program. This orientation will provide summer associates with an introduction to the Law Students in Action Project and their placements, as well as the practice of public interest law. The goal of the LSAP Summer Associate Program is to provide law students with an exciting and challenging introduction to public interest law and a career in the legal profession. Each placement offers a unique summer experience. A variety of assignments may include: - Factual and Legal Investigation
- Researching Relevant Legal Issues
- Assisting and Attending Court Proceedings
- Advocating at administrative fair hearings
Summer Associates will also participate in substantive legal trainings, brown bag lunches with legal service staff, and Lunch & Learn programs. In addition, LSAP provides Summer Associates with a variety of social activities including a Summer Social that brings together all Summer Associates and the attorneys in their offices for food, fun and networking. Back to index
Placement Descriptions Legal Assistance of Western New York
- Chemung County and Tompkins/Tioga Neighborhood Legal Services:
This division of LAWNY serves Chemung, Schuyler, Tompkins and Tioga counties, and has offices in Elmira and Ithaca.
- Elmira Office:
- Law Intern - Student will assist with disability/social security, housing, public benefits, and family law cases. Student will perform client intake, factual investigation, case management, and legal research and writing.
- Ithaca Office:
- Law Intern - Students will assist attorneys with social security and disability matters as well as public benefits, consumer, and elder law issues. Limited time may be spent on prisoner re-entry and divorce matters. Students will perform client intake and interviewing, fact investigation, case management, and legal research and writing.
- Prisoner Re-entry & Pro Se Divorce Intern - Student will split his/her time between Re-entry and Pro Se Divorce matters. Part of the student's time will be spent assisting attorneys with "cleaning up" individuals' criminal records and obtaining Certificates of Rehabilitation for individuals with criminal records. The student's remaining time will be spent working with individuals representing themselves in uncontested divorce proceedings. Assistance on both subjects will include client intake and interviewing, factual investigation, case management, and legal research and writing.
- Legal Assistance of the Finger Lakes:
Serving Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties from its Geneva office, LAFL represents clients in housing, family law, elder law and disability matters.
- Housing Intern - Student will assist staff and attorneys with landlord/tenant and homelessness prevention issues. Student will conduct client intake, investigate and monitor cases, assist attorney in court preparation and update and author new materials for client use.
- Housing/Elder/Health Law Intern - Student will work with experienced attorneys on landlord/tenant, elder law, and health law issues. Student will conduct client intake, investigate and monitor cases, assist attorney in court preparation, perform legal research and writing, and update and author new materials for client use.
- Family Law - Student will work with attorneys on family law cases including child support, custody, divorce, as well as work with victims of domestic violence. Students will conduct client intake, factual investigation, and case management, as well as legal research and writing. In addition, the students may assist attorneys with intake and preparation for pro se divorce clinics. Students may also assist with related housing or public assistance issues.
- Law Intern - Student will work on a variety of projects for the Executive Director, including implementation of evaluation phase of a federal technology grant, factual investigation and writing of grant proposals and various other projects around issues of legal services management. In addition, the student will conduct client intake and factual and legal research for clients at risk of homelessness and/or people with disabilities. Direct service work for clients will require the student to be in the office; however, a majority of the remaining work may be done from home or school.
Back to index
- Monroe County Legal Assistance Center:
Located in Rochester, MCLAC serves Monroe County residents in a broad variety of administrative and judicial forums regarding public benefits, housing law and elder law.
- Elder Law/Public Benefits Intern - Student will assist attorneys in the General Law Unit with Medicare, Medicaid, health care issues, advance directives, powers of attorney, housing, rights of nursing home and adult home residents, consumer issues, seized bank accounts, social security/SSI overpayments and public benefits (public assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid). Tasks may include conducting client intake, factual and legal investigations, research and writing, attending or acting as an advocate for clients during administrative Fair Hearings, and community outreach. Proficiency in Spanish a plus.
- Re-entry Project Intern - Student will assist attorney representing clients who are seeking or trying to maintain public benefits and clients who are facing unlawful discrimination based on their criminal records. Student may conduct client intake and subsequent interviews, perform legal research and writing, conduct fact investigation, attend and observe court proceedings, and conduct law-related education and community outreach. Student may also assist with correcting criminal records, and prepare petitions for Certificates of Rehabilitation. Spanish desired, but not required.
- Housing Intern - Student will assist attorneys representing clients in landlord-tenant court. Student will conduct client intake and interviewing, fact investigation, legal research and writing, perform alternate dispute resolution, and provide courtroom representation through a practice order. Student will also research and prepare new educational outreach materials for clients. Fluency in Spanish helpful.
Back to index
- Southern Tier Legal Services:
The Southern Tier Legal Services division of LAWNY serves Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Steuben counties, and has offices in Bath, Jamestown and Olean.
- Bath Office:
- Disability Advocacy Project (DAP) Intern - Student will assist attorneys with client intake and interviewing, fact investigation, and legal research and writing for social security cases. Specifically, the DAP Intern will assist with preparation of social security cases for administrative hearings, writing legal memos to administrative law judges, and researching case law for appeal briefs. Student may observe and/or handle administrative hearings.
- Law Intern - Student will assist attorneys on cases relating to bankruptcy, credit issues, domestic violence, housing, and public benefits. In addition, student will have the opportunity to observe court appearances with attorneys.
- Jamestown Office:
- Law Intern - Student will perform client intake and interviewing, factual investigation, case management and legal research and writing, and will also have the opportunity to observe court appearances with attorneys. The office handles cases related to consumer law, housing law, public benefits, and education law.
- Olean Office:
- Law Intern - Student will perform client intake and interviewing, factual investigation, case management and legal research and writing, and will also have the opportunity to observe court appearances with attorneys. The office handles cases related to consumer law, housing law, public benefits, and education law.
Back to index Empire Justice Center Formed with the 2005 merger of Greater Upstate Law Project and Public Interest Law Office of Rochester, Empire Justice Center serves as a resource for other civil legal service providers throughout New York State. Empire Justice offers a multi-strategy approach to protecting the legal rights of all New Yorkers through impact litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, and technical assistance. Empire Justice has offices in Albany, Rochester, White Plains, and Long Island. - Albany Office:
- Food Stamp/Public Benefits Intern - Student will work with attorney working on the food stamp program and other public benefits issues, particularly in relation to how they affect the immigrant population. Primary tasks will be researching and continuing development of website resource for advocates in the food stamp field. Student may also assist other attorneys on disability, consumer law, public benefits, and immigration issues. This is a research-heavy position, with some client interaction possible.
- Rochester Office:
- Civil Rights Intern - Student will research and provide assistance with preparation of administrative and judicial civil rights enforcement cases involving unlawful discrimination in housing, employment and education based on classes protected by state and federal laws, including race, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation.
- Consumer Law/Fair Credit & Predatory Lending Intern - Student will work with attorneys on consumer law issues such as community reinvestment, bank mergers, bank mortgages, rent-to-own contracts, and predatory lending and mortgage foreclosure issues. Student will conduct client intake, legal research and writing, and drafting of correspondence. Student may also be asked to perform data analysis, legislative advocacy and case investigation.
- Employment Discrimination Law Intern - Student will assist attorneys with employment discrimination (minimum wage/overtime and Family Medical Leave Act requirements). Tasks may include drafting legal memos, performing fact investigation and discovery, and conducting law-related outreach and client interviews.
- Housing Law Intern - Student will assist an attorney with housing law research projects. Work may include updating housing law resources and case summaries on the Empire Justice website and performing legal research and writing for fair housing briefs. Direct service work for clients will require student to be in the office, but a majority of the remaining work may be done from home or school.
- Social Security/SSI Disability Intern - Student may be asked to collect and analyze post-entitlement forms, perform legal research and writing for federal court briefs, summarize cases for brief bank, and do legal research regarding legislative changes to Social Security law.
- Special Education Intern - Student will conduct factual investigations, discovery, client interviews, and outreach; perform legal research and writing; and draft legal memos.
Back to index Farmworker Legal Services of New York FLSNY is a statewide not-for-profit law firm that provides direct legal assistance to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The project is the only farmworker agency that can provide direct legal services and organization to farmworkers regardless of their immigration status. The project uses the law to empower and organize migrant, seasonal, and dairy farmworkers. - Law Intern - Students will assist attorneys with a variety of legal issues that affect migrant farmworkers, including domestic violence, civil/human rights, and employment law. Tasks will include client intake and subsequent interviews, fact investigation, legal research and writing, and courtroom observation. Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred.
Back to index Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York is a public interest law firm serving low-income and elderly individuals in 13 counties in Central New York who are experiencing problems related to housing, family law, SSI, consumer issues, and domestic violence as well as other civil legal issues. Proficiency in Russian or Bosnian a plus. The following positions are open in the Binghamton office: - Family Law Interns - Students (up to four) will be given direct exposure to all aspects of family law including settlement negotiation and motion practice in addition to direct client contact through client interviewing and trial preparation and trial observation.
- Family Law/Housing Intern - Student will be given direct exposure to all aspects of family law and housing law including settlement negotiation and motion practice in addition to direct client contact through client interviewing and trial preparation.
- Family Law/Elder Law Intern - Students will be given direct exposure to all aspects of family and elder law including settlement negotiation and motion practice in addition to direct client contact through client interviewing and trial preparation.
- Family Law/Consumer Law Intern - Students will be given direct exposure to all aspects of family and consumer law including settlement negotiation and motion practice in addition to direct client contact through client interviewing and trial preparation.
Back to index Legal Aid Society of Rochester Legal Aid Society of Rochester is a not-for-profit organization that provides direct civil legal services, including lay advocacy and related human services, to adults and children. It ensures that those who seek justice have an opportunity to a fair and full hearing and obtains legal solutions that have a beneficial impact on its clients and the community. - Immigration Intern - This unit provides legal representation to individuals in need of assistance with deportation/exclusion, asylum, permanent residence, and other areas of immigration law. Student will perform client intake and interviewing, factual investigation, and legal research and writing. Fluency in Spanish desired, but not required.
- Housing Intern - The housing unit represents individuals in the Rochester City Court who are facing eviction. In addition, the unit provides alternative dispute resolution to eligible landlords and tenants. The Home Ownership Initiative assists clients in home purchases, foreclosures, and home preservation matters. Students will perform client intake and interviewing, factual investigation, legal research and writing, and attend court proceedings. Students may also assist in preparation of Bankruptcy petitions. A student practice order may be available. Fluency in Spanish a plus.
- Family Law Intern - Students will assist attorneys with client intake, factual investigation and case management, and legal research and writing. In addition, students will attend court proceedings with attorneys. Cases will include divorce, child support, custody, and domestic violence. A student practice order may be available.
- Law Guardian Intern - This unit provides court-appointed representation to children involved in Monroe County Family Court. Cases may involve child abuse or neglect, custody, visitation, foster care, PINS or juvenile delinquency. Student will conduct client interviews, factual investigation, legal research, and attend court proceedings with an attorney. Student must have a demonstrated commitment to child advocacy work.
Back to index Monroe County Conflict Defender Office The Conflict Defender Office ensures legal representation and a fair trial to qualified clients in criminal and family law matters. This office represents clients where the Public Defender's Office is unable to provide representation due to a conflict of interest. - Family Law Intern - Student will assist attorneys with family law cases, including custody, abuse and neglect, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights, and PINS petitions. Duties may include conducting client intake and interviews, legal research and writing, drafting pleadings, conducting fact investigation, and preparing for and attending court with attorneys.
- Criminal Law Intern - Student will assist attorneys with misdemeanor criminal law cases and felony appeals. Tasks will include conducting client intake and interviews, legal research and writing, drafting pleadings, and preparing for and attending court with attorneys.
Back to index Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Volunteer Legal Services Project is a non-profit private law firm whose mission is to improve the quality of life for low-income residents of Monroe County by ensuring the existence of a readily available panel of skilled volunteer attorneys to resolve serious legal problems. In addition, VLSP offers clinics to assist clients with pro se divorce, bankruptcy and wills. - Family, Consumer, and Wills Clinic Intern - Student will assist staff and volunteer attorneys on a wide variety of cases involving family, consumer, and estate law. Student will assist at numerous legal clinics, including pro se divorce, family law, debt, and wills clinics, and will also help provide outreach to terminally-ill clients. Activities will include client intake and interviewing, monitoring open files, staffing clinics, coordinating pro bono attorney activities, legal research and writing, and community outreach. In addition, the student will assist staff in updating and maintaining probono.net website. (Part-time may be possible)
Back to index
Practice Orders Several of the placement sites have practice orders that may enable students to gain courtroom experience as part of the LSAP Summer Associate Program. Please see your LSAP representative for more information regarding your particular placement. LSAP does not make any guarantees regarding the availability of practice orders for any particular placement or office. Funding Due to programming and funding restraints, LSAP Summer Associate positions are unpaid. However, applicants may secure their own funding and are greatly encouraged to do so. Examples of possible funding sources include: - Summer grants/fellowships through your law school or law school public interest organization
Fellowship Opportunities Rising 3L LSAP Summer Associates may have the opportunity to seek sponsorship in the fellowship process with one of the LAWNY offices. The LAWNY offices currently have particular projects which they are interested in sponsoring, but all project applications will be considered. More specific information about seeking fellowship sponsorship with a LAWNY office will be available at a later date. Information about Western and Central New York With several major and minor league sports teams, world-renowned wine trails, world-class symphonies and dance companies, vibrant local music scenes, and countless opportunities for boating, hiking and camping, the Western and Central New York region is a great place not only to visit for the summer but also to live and practice law. The area includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. More information about what Western and Central New York have to offer can be found on our website. Housing Information LSAP does not provide housing or assistance in finding housing for its Summer Associates. We have, however, compiled a list of resources located on our website which may be of assistance in locating summer housing. LSAP is also happy to put Summer Associates in touch with one another should you wish to find a roommate to help share summer expenses. Student Qualifications Applicants for the LSAP Summer Associate Program should possess enthusiasm for working in public interest and excellent communication and legal research skills. Law students who are fluent in Spanish are strongly encouraged to apply. Back to index
Application Procedures & Rules - All applicants should have successfully completed their first year of law school by the time they begin their placement.
- Applications should include:
1) Indicates your placement/project preferences (max 3); and
2) Explains why you are interested in the particular type of law or office
- We prefer to receive application materials via U.S. Mail
University at Buffalo Law School students please send application materials to: Alissa L. Baader Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow Legal Assistance of Western New York 1 West Main St., Suite 400 Rochester, NY 14614 Tel: 585-295-5606 Fax: 585-325-2559 E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cornell Law School students please send application materials to: Tahira M. Bland Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow
Legal Assistance of Western New York The DeWitt Building 215 N. Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Tel: 607-273-3667 Fax: 607-273-5521 E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Syracuse University College of Law students please send application materials to: Bethany E. Hamilton Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow Legal Assistance of Western New York One Franklin Square, PO Box 487 Geneva, NY 14456 Tel: 315-781-1465 Fax: 315-781-2565 Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
All other applicants please mail application materials to: Tahira M. Bland Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Fellow Legal Assistance of Western New York The DeWitt Building 215 N. Cayuga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 Tel: 607-273-3667 Fax: 607-273-5521 E-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If you need to e-mail your application materials, please send to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Application materials must be received no later than 5 p.m. EST on Friday, February 6, 2009 Back to index
|
