Open Hands Legal services offers law student internships throughout the year. The internship program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to support the provision of free legal services in a collaborative Christian social services setting and throughout New York City.
Position description. The intern will work with our Open Hands and our partners to provide Christ-centered, holistic social services low-income New Yorkers. The intern will assist in operating the legal aid desk, will conduct legal research and regular client intake and, under attorney supervision, he/she provide clients with legal advice in areas relating to landlord-tenant law, consumer law, family law, and re-entry, among other things.
Qualifications. The applicant should either be enrolled in law school or have already graduated. He/she must have an interest in social justice and legal issues, and serving low-income New Yorkers in a fast-pasted and energetic start-up environment. He/she should have excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills, be responsible, flexible and hard working. Interns are expected to work a minimum of 15 hours per week (Monday through Wednesday and on occasional Saturdays) over a 10 to 12 week internship period.
About Open Hands. Open Hands Legal Services is a faith-based legal services organization. We provide free legal services and spiritual support to the poor and indigent in New York City. We do our work primarily through the use of volunteer attorneys. We are lean, aggressive in our desire to effect justice and change lives and are passionate about providing hope and stability to individuals and communities. More information is available at www.openhandslegalservices.org.
Open Hands' internship and fellowship programs provide students and attorneys with a rich learning experience, but do not provide monetary compensation.
To apply, please submit a resume and letter of interest (no longer than one page) to Executive Director C.J. Masimore at cj@openhandslegalservices.org. Please write “Open Hands Law Student Intern Application” and your first and last name in the subject line of the e-mail. For fall 2014, one position is available. Applications are accepted – and decisions will be made – on a rolling basis. No calls please. We will only respond to those candidates we wish to interview.
