Fall 2026 Social Services Practicum

Internship & Practicum Program

ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a holistic legal advocacy organization that combats the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in communities of color. ACD's foundation of civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration achieves and inspires justice and equitable outcomes for people throughout the St. Louis region and beyond.

ACD envisions a society liberated from systems of oppression where the promise of justice and racial equity is realized; communities where our approach to public safety prioritizes investment in well-being, health, and transformation without relying on criminalization and incarceration; and people living freely in their communities, thriving regardless of their race or income.

ACD and its partners in the organizing and advocacy community are at the center of efforts in the St. Louis region to:

• Re-envision public safety, promote community well-being through policy change, and hold public actors and institutions accountable for misconduct through litigation and zealous holistic representation.
• Challenge a system of policing, courts, and jails designed to meet municipal financial needs rather than the needs of those they purport to serve. Such practices attracted national spotlight during the 2014 Ferguson Uprising and remain widespread throughout our region.
• Engage in litigation and collaborative advocacy designed to bring abusive practices to an end and empower those communities that have been targeted by such practices.

Role Overview

ACD seeks a diligent and creative individual with a strong commitment to social justice to participate in our internship & practicum program. The practicum student will work alongside our dynamic and diverse staff of attorneys, paralegals, social workers, community organizers, and media and communication advocates who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of poverty and involvement with the legal system.

We seek practicum students who will work with our social services team to support our clients and help demonstrate how communities can reimagine public safety through a racial and social justice lens while creating pathways for individual self-determination and community empowerment.

ACD provides students with practicum experience at the intersection of law and social work. Interns provide holistic, trauma-informed case management for clients, including housing support, access to identification, public benefits support, and transportation assistance, among other needs. The Social Services program also facilitates a Food Delivery program and ACD's yearly Holiday Gift Drive.

A successful intern needs to be assertive, independent, persistent, empathetic, proactive, and flexible. They will need to take initiative, use problem-solving skills, see projects through to completion, and become a strong advocate for themselves and others.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct intakes and bio-psycho-social assessments and provide holistic, trauma-informed case management for clients
• Work closely with the social services team and legal staff to assist with various client needs
• Strategize with field instructor, attorneys, social workers, and clients regarding goals and case plan
• Maintain proper records and documentation for agency internal and external requirements
• Offer crisis intervention, psychoeducation, affirming and empathetic listening, and support to clients/clients' families
• Empower clients by working with them to identify barriers and solutions
• Create and maintain an up-to-date client support resource list
• Be self-aware and know when to seek help from supervisor/co-workers
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community resources to foster effective coordination of services for clients
• Attend any trainings as assigned
• Participate in mezzo- and macro-level social work projects as needed
• Support the mission of ACD and work with staff to support that mission through social work services
• Any other duties as assigned to help the social services team do its best work

Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Comfort and experience with researching resources and programs for clients
• Detail-oriented approach to working in a team-driven organization
• High capacity for problem-solving and self-direction and the ability to work independently within time constraints
• Flexible and able to respond appropriately to ACD's changing needs
• Must be able to maintain appropriate client boundaries
• Commitment to racial and economic justice and systems change
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity toward diverse populations; awareness of structures of power, privilege, and oppression
• Knowledge of homelessness and/or the criminal legal system; best practices, particularly around economic gaps and needs; or passion to learn about these issues, systems, and resources

Important Information:

• We plan to host Fall 2026 interns and practicum students in person and they are required to work in-person at our new office at 5939 Goodfellow. However, that plan is subject to change to remote work at any time due to public health requirements, work locations and expectations, and school-related policies and procedures.
• Due to the potential for conflicts of interest (among other reasons), we are not able to accept interns or practicum students who seek to simultaneously engage in more than one internship while working with ACD.
• ArchCity Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQIA+, and gender non-conforming applicants.