About the role#
Neighborhood Defender Service is seeking current second-year law students for a summer internship within our Family Defense Practice. This program provides an experience modeled after the daily work of our staff attorneys. You will work within interdisciplinary teams to represent parents in family policing cases, including child welfare matters, custody, visitation, and termination of parental rights proceedings.
What you'll do#
Interns work directly with clients and staff to provide holistic support. Your responsibilities include:
- Conducting legal research and drafting legal motions.
- Assisting with hearing and trial preparation.
- Appearing on the record under the student practice order.
- Conducting client, witness, and precinct interviews.
- Assisting with investigations.
- Visiting clients at jails and juvenile detention facilities.
- Attending court proceedings.
What you'll need#
- You must be a current second-year law student.
- A demonstrated commitment to family defense and social justice issues.
- Energy, enthusiasm, and an unwavering commitment to our clients.
Location & details#
- This is a 10-week summer internship, typically running from early June through early August.
- The role is based in New York, New York, with a hybrid work modality.
- This is an unpaid, full-time position.
About Neighborhood Defender Service
Neighborhood Defender Service provides public defense services through a community-based model. Founded in 1990 in Harlem, the organization employs a team of attorneys, social workers, and investigators to address legal and social issues for its clients. It operates offices in New York and Detroit. The practice covers criminal, civil, family, immigration, and housing law.
How to get in at Neighborhood Defender Service
Applying early to Neighborhood Defender Service gives you a distinct advantage because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role is published, so you can submit your materials before the applicant pool grows large. This ensures your application is among the first seen by the team. Reaching out to the right person often yields better results than submitting to a general portal. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the roles at Neighborhood Defender Service, allowing you to contact them directly to ask about the position or a referral. This approach improves your response rates and helps you stand out from the crowd.
