Summer 2025 Legal Aid Internship - Community Legal Aid & Affiliate

Community Legal Aid (CLA) is the civil legal aid program serving the low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts. Through CLA's effective advocacy in more than 8,000 cases each year, some of the most vulnerable residents of the region obtain safe and stable housing; fight discrimination in the housing and employment arenas; access unemployment, disability and other benefits to stabilize their income; break free from domestic violence and other abuse and exploitation; and get needed services in school. In addition, CLA's wholly-owned subsidiary, the Central West Justice Center (CWJC), specializes in cases involving humanitarian-based immigration relief.

Community Legal Aid and Affiliate is looking for summer law student interns for 2025. Interns may conduct client interviews and advise clients with appropriate supervision; assist in preparing pleadings; research and draft briefs and other legal documents; assist in trial and/or hearing preparation; and attend community meetings, outreach events, and/or court and agency hearings with staff advocates. We pay our summer interns if they cannot receive funding from their law schools. Special Note: Second- and third-year law students, if they obtain the necessary certification, are able to represent clients in court under the supervision of an attorney.

Applicants will work in one of the following practice areas:

• Family Law: Assist clients, primarily survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, with the full range of domestic relations cases, including divorce, restraining orders, child custody and parenting time, and child support.
• Elder Law: Assist clients age 60 and over with cases involving access to benefits and healthcare; consumer credit issues; elder abuse including financial and physical abuse by caretakers and/or family members; housing issues; and family law issues.
• Immigration Law (CWJC): Assist immigrants in removal proceedings and help clients apply for relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and for other forms of relief including U and T visas, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, and asylum.
• Benefits Law: Help clients access social security; cash assistance; SNAP (food stamps); emergency shelter; and health care benefits.
• Education Law: Assist children with special needs and other at-risk students access appropriate services in school; challenge expulsions and suspensions, including monitoring disproportionate discipline experienced by students of color; and work on systemic issues including language access for English Language Learners and their families.
• Housing Law: Assist tenants with matters involving eviction defense, fair housing, and access to rent subsidy programs.

Application Process: Please submit this application along with your cover letter and resume to Ingrid Liu, Recruitment Coordinator, at iliu@cla-ma.org. Alternatively, you can submit your application through our job portal.

CLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strives to ensure that our staff members reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. CLA encourages applicants from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.