Summer 2021 Legal Internship, Public Interest Law Center

Posted by Public Interest Law Center on November 3, 2020

The Public Interest Law Center is currently accepting applications from law students, graduate students, and undergraduates for its Summer 2021 internship programs. Interns are given significant responsibilities on substantive legal projects in the areas of voting, education, housing, employment, health care, and environmental justice. Over the course of the summer, interns typically complete assignments in several of these practice areas and can pursue work related to areas of particular interest. Assignments include legal research and writing; drafting briefs, pleadings, and discovery requests; reviewing and analyzing discovery responses and documents; interviewing clients and witnesses; and preparing policy memoranda and proposed legislation. Interns also gain practical experience through shadowing attorneys at meetings and court appearances.

Legal interns become part of a close-knit group of attorneys, advocates, and others committed to social justice. The attorneys and staff at the Public Interest Law Center are committed to training the next generation of civil rights attorneys, advocates, and nonprofit leaders. Interns work with staff mentors who help interns build the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful lawyers.

We seek applicants with the following qualities:

1. Excellent analytical and research skills
2. Demonstrated excellence in legal writing
3. Initiative and creativity
4. Collaborative skills and capacity for teamwork with colleagues and clients
5. Enthusiasm about our mission.

First preference will be given to 2L students, but we welcome applications from 1L students.

The Public Interest Law Center is a nationally-renowned public interest law firm using high-impact legal strategies to advance the civil, social, and economic rights of communities in the Philadelphia region facing discrimination, inequality, and poverty. We combine targeted litigation, legal advice, community education, advocacy, and organizing to secure people’s access to fundamental resources and services, including a high-quality education, health care, housing and community services, employment, a healthy neighborhood and the unencumbered right to vote.

Contact with children: The candidate’s contact with children will be limited; and will occur only if the intern is present during a meeting between Law Center staff and a parent and if the parent is accompanied by their child.

The position is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with remote work being accepted. As internships are unpaid, we encourage students to seek outside funding opportunities. We will gladly handle any administrative requirements for students that secure funding for their time with us.

The Public Interest Law Center is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment and encourages diverse candidates to apply. The Law Center is also committed to keeping children safe and has adopted a child safeguarding policy.

This is a competitive process and we will select candidates on a rolling basis as we receive applications.

To apply, submit a letter, resume, and writing sample. Your cover letter should be 1-2 pages long and should include a statement of your reasons for seeking an internship at the Public Interest Law Center. Please send these materials by email to: William Burstein, wburstein@pubintlaw.org.