Clarifying Legal Aid Internship
Laid-out simply, a legal aid internship is a work placement or shadowing opportunity that is offered by a legal aid clinic or charity to aspiring lawyers and law students, to help them gain insight into the world of professional legal work. Essentially, it is work experience for those looking to break into the legal profession.
Located all over the world, these legal aid clinics link students to lawyers who perform legal aid work or legal aid charities and receive either compensation or academic credits for their work. They are offered by various government departments , professional organizations and charities, as well as private firms and establishments. Some paid internships offer free resources for further education, such as books and seminars.
In general, the work performed during one of these internships will include casework, drafting and meeting clients. In some cases, students will be able to attend lectures with notable tutors and other senior lawyers. Sometimes, a legal aid internship must be completed before the student can proceed onto their practical training course (known in the UK as the LPC).
Requirements and Necessary Qualifications
Most legal aid internships are open to undergraduates and graduates alike. The required qualifications for these positions are not that strenuous and generally comprise of a basic familiarity with legalities, a good command of English with a modicum of written communication skills. Legal aid internships are ideal for any college or university student who is not sure about what step they want to take after graduation, while this experience is especially beneficial for law school aspirants. It is also, of course, a huge bonus to have great internships on your resume when applying to jobs, whether you decided to pursue a career in law or not.
Legal aid internships usually call for the students to be enrolled in an undergraduate or a graduate program. Students from a few different disciplines can apply for a legal aid student internship. Those majoring in law and international relations should, in particular, be eager to apply. Exposure to legal situations through a legal aid internship can also help those interested in working in human rights and advocacy, professions in which legal knowledge and experience goes a long way. Legal interns are usually required to have strong written and oral communication skills, a basic understanding of the United States court systems, a passion for helping others and willingness to be flexible.
Advantages of Legal Aid Internship
A legal aid internship provides numerous benefits, both professional and personal. It allows interns to gain practical experience in the field, sharpening their legal skills and enhancing their understanding of the law and related processes. These short-term positions also allow for exploration of the various legal aid focuses. In addition, interns are able to establish valuable networking connections while growing in their knowledge of social justice issues.
By maximizing a legal aid internship, law students, recent graduates or professionals can gain insight and connections that will prove beneficial throughout their careers in law.
Applying for Legal Aid Internship
Now that the process for a Legal Aid internship has been clarified, how do you go about applying for one? For most of us, from the end of this legal aid placement we will be looking to obtain a training contract. However, this does not preclude you from pursuing further opportunities within legal aid. However, if you are hoping to continue in legal aid work it is important to fully appreciate the ways that different legal aid internships/geographies work.
Internships are advertised on the LAG website and tend to be locations that are increasing their legal aid provision but where further cash is still needed. Previous locations can include along the Southern Coastal area. In these internships it is likely that you will have to apply for an A2 or A1 fee earner status with the LSC, which means that you will be expected to charge at least £30-35 an hour for your work and will receive a percentage of your fee. This is in return for making your caseload profitable for the firm. Beyond this, staff will be unable to help you further. This is a chance to gain experience as a fee earner and demonstrates your worth to the firm. Future opportunities may then open up to you in the same area.
In London, the situation is very different. As you may know, there is a Legal Advice Centre being opened at City University which will be providing clinical experience by representing clients. Whilst this is promising, it is important to remember that this is being funded by the College and will not be free forever.
Internships tend to be advertised on the websites/jobs pages of universities if they are of a temporary nature. In addition, there will be articles publicised on opportunities. Traditionally, you will be expected to submit your CV and a cover letter. This should demonstrate your passion for and commitment to legal aid work, but more importantly, show that you are the right person for the job. Employers receive an influx of CVs and will want to give the role to someone who has demonstrated why they should get the job above anyone else. In addition, you should demonstrate why this specific placement is of interest to you, as opposed to a general application towards legal aid. Applications can often be more competitive than trainee contracts.
After the submission of your CV you may be invited for an interview. This can be daunting, especially in a field where there is extreme competition. It is important to remember that your interviewer is aware that you have no experience in legal work and caters for this. The important part of the interview is to ensure that your commitment for this specific area of work shines through. Show that you have given careful thought to the application both generally and in respect of the specific placement and organisation. Questions may include asking you what legal aid means to you, current events that have happened within legal aid (OUH this year has been the Legal Aid Bill). Be prepared to answer fully questions as to why legal aid is important, the regionalisation of court hearings, the withdrawal of funding for judicial reviews and the rise in pro-bono services (I am sorry you have had to read this section twice!).
Pitfalls and Payoffs in Legal Aid Internship
Working on limited resources. Courtroom appointments. Dealing with pro se litigants and uncooperative witnesses. It is safe to say that legal aid internships are not for everyone. Many law students enjoy the academic rigor of law school, but they see their practical experience in a different light – as more of an extension of their six semesters of class lectures. For some, law school is itself a difficult environment for applying the knowledge they learn in class. Working as a legal aid intern or on a public interest law journal is the complete opposite – it is an immersive introduction that challenges students to grow quickly in a competitive environment. With all of the challenges , though, legal aid internships are often touted as among the best available to law students. In the case of New York legal aid offices and clinics, internships often lead to post-graduate job offers and relationships with influential attorneys. And for many students, the feeling of working on cases that will set precedents or help indigent clients gain access to much needed benefits is worth more than any 1L summer associate position. If you’re on the fence about taking a legal aid internship yourself, or perhaps you have other concerns about working on a legal aid externship during school, the following challenges and rewards are a good overview of what you can expect.
First-Hand Accounts for Legal Aid Interns
We’ve explored the critical skills legal aid interns develop and how these skills prepare them for the future. But what is it really like to intern at a legal aid organization? Real-life experiences from past or current legal aid interns make the case better than any corporate language.
Sayak is a law student based out of South Kansas City. He interned with The Legal Aid Society in Kansas City, MO where he strived to help individuals overcome their legal barrier to success. "I had high hopes for new experiences but never could have imagined the impact my internship would have on my life and career path," said Sayak. "After spending the summer with The Legal Aid Society, I truly believe I’ve found my professional passion."
While interning at The Legal Aid Society, Sayak was able to work on a number of cases, but none hit home harder than a case for an elderly woman recently diagnosed with cancer. "We were working on her asset protection so she could qualify for Medicaid benefits." He explained that with her cancer diagnosis the woman’s health began to decline leaving her unable to manage her affairs. Her family stepped in as her power of attorney.
"This included transferring half of her assets to her son so they can be protected while the other half would pay for her medical bills." It wasn’t until the asset transfer had closed that Sayak received a call from the woman’s power of attorney letting him know that due to her medical decline, her health insurance would no longer pay for her home care needs. "I popped online to check my work emails when I found that legal aid would often post stories about clients and their experiences . . ." Says Sayak. "I saw my clients story posted for the world to see by legal aid."
Although acting as a humble lawyer, his client had hired to help her navigate financial hardships, this experience gave Sayak a different perspective. "I had to ask myself: ‘What if it were your grandmother? Would you want her story on the web in this way?’"
Sayak’s story is not the only one. Almost every year stories like this come across the site, many interns build relationships with their clients not knowing the true impact those relationships. "Legal aid provides us a chance to meet people from across the world" he said. "As I prepare to face the bar exam, I will carry these stories and these experiences with me into my career."
Prospective Employment Following a Legal Aid Internship
Upon completing an internship in legal aid, individuals have numerous options for continued work or studies. Many of our past interns have chosen to remain in the public interest arena, either through further study or full-time work with a nonprofit or government agency. Legal Aide’s interns range across a broad spectrum of ages and experiences. A busy mother may seek to improve her marketability through gaining valuable experience and skills. An undergraduate law student may use Legal Aid as a stepping stone or substitute for law school. A recent law school graduate might use Legal Aid as a gap year before applying for a post-graduate fellowship . Interns have gone on to continue their public interest law with some of the nation’s top law firms, such as Cleary Gottlieb, Stuart & Tatum, Quinn Emanuel and Simpson Thacher & Barlett. A recent history of law school and graduate program placements of Legal Aid interns includes: University of Chicago Law School, University of Virginia School of Law, Harvard University, Yale University, University of Michigan, Columbia University—School of International and Public Affairs. Other alumni of Legal Aid’s intern program include attorneys now at: Legal Aid Society of New York, Greater Boston Legal Services, Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts, Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project and The Bronx Defenders.