Law Reform Legal Intern - Fall 2026 - New York, NY

Law Reform Legal Intern - Fall 2026 Job ID: #26-64 Location: New York, New York, United States (Citywide) Application Deadline: Sep 30, 2026, 3:00 PM EST (Date Listed) Job Description The Law Reform Units of the Legal Aid Society (LAS) offer law school students the opportunity to participate in ground‑breaking work on impact litigation and policy initiatives that aim to address systemic issues facing Legal Aid's clients. The Law Reform units consist of: 1. Criminal Defense Law Reform Team This team has four internship programs. Candidates applying to the Criminal Law Reform team should indicate their unit/project preferences in their cover letter. The options are: Special Litigation Unit Prisoners' Rights Project Incarcerated Client Services Unit Decarceration Unit 2. Law Reform Unit of the Civil Practice (including Homeless Rights Unit) 3. Special Litigation and Law Reform Unit of the Juvenile Rights Practice 4. LGBTQ+ Law and Policy Initiative Unit Each of these units engages in impact litigation, policy reform, coalition building, and public education strategies to grapple with novel legal issues arising in the daily practice of Legal Aid's direct services work. Interns applying to this position will be assigned to one of these units for the duration of their internship, depending on the preferences of the intern and the needs of the units. Review the Legal Aid Society's website for more specific descriptions of the work of each unit and identify which unit(s) you would be interested in working with in your cover letter.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Engage in various aspects of Legal Aid's law reform work, depending on the specific needs of the assigned unit. Conduct legal research and factual research. Interview clients. Participate in discovery and trial practice as opportunities arise. Contribute to legal papers, policy memos, legislative testimony. Complete other tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

2L and 3L students in good standing. Interest in working on issues affecting the rights of Legal Aid's clients, tailored to the prioritized unit(s). Excellent research, writing, and communication skills. The ability to analyze complex legal and policy issues. The initiative to see projects through to completion. A commitment to racial and social justice. Salary Transparency This internship position is unpaid. Stipends & Benefits Interns may be eligible for financial assistance, public interest funding, or academic credit through their law school. These internships may also qualify for pro bono credit. Interns may apply for the Howard Rossbach and Mary Boresz Pike Stipends administered by the Legal Aid Society. The Howard Rossbach stipend is awarded through a lottery system to support interns who demonstrate financial need and lack funding for their internships. The Mary Boresz Pike Intern Fund also supports law school internships at LAS. To be considered for these stipends, interns must: Be enrolled as a law student at an accredited institution. Be ultimately accepted to participate in an internship program at LAS. Demonstrate financial need. Lack funding for their internship. Simultaneously fill out the Internship Stipend Form during the submission of your internship application. Only one application per applicant per year is permitted. Stipend will be treated as taxable income. Application deadline: Stipend opportunities are awarded seasonally; deadlines may vary. How to Apply All applications must be completed online. We do not accept paper submissions. Please visit our Careers Page to review all current job postings and instructions on the application process. Applicants should identify one or more Law Reform Units of interest in their cover letter. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so it is encouraged to apply early. Applicants will be notified whether or not they have been selected for an interview. Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF via the LAS Recruitment Portal. Cover Letter Resume For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email View email address on click.appcast.io. Equal Employment Opportunity As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions and treatment of its employees and applicants based on actual or perceived race or color, size, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, relationship and family structure, genetic information, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre‑employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client‑oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building strong professional relationships with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Legal Aid Society