Summer Internships
Legal Services Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid
Summer 2024 Internship Announcement
Program Overview
Legal Services Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid are seeking law student interns for our 10-week, full-time Summer Internship Program expected to begin late May or early June. The start date and hours depend on applicant and program availability. The internships may be a hybrid of remote and in-person time. Legal Services Vermont and Vermont Legal Aid work together on certain legal issues, but our offices offer separate internship opportunities. Interested students should indicate in their cover letter whether they would like to be considered for Legal Services Vermont, Vermont Legal Aid, or both.
Legal Services Vermont offers students the opportunity to engage in client intake, drafting memos, working with community groups, and conducting legal research. Rising 3Ls who have completed an Evidence course may participate in judicial proceedings under supervision of a mentor attorney. All students should expect a large part of their time on direct client services. Students may assist attorneys in court and shadow judicial proceedings, typically eviction defense and matters supporting victims of domestic crime. Students may also work on a project such as designing a community education program, creating written outreach materials, or developing substantive law guides for advocates. Find out more about us here: https://www.legalservicesvt.org.
Vermont Legal Aid offers students the opportunity to work on a variety of individual or systemic cases through research projects, policy review and analysis, and attorney support on cases and other advocacy efforts. VLA works in several different Projects; you can find more information about the work of those Projects here: https://www.vtlegalaid.org/our-projects. In many Projects, interns will work on individual cases with their supervising attorney, interview clients, conduct merit reviews, complete legal research, and provide advice and advocacy support. For qualified interns (rising 3Ls who have satisfactorily completed a course in Evidence), depending on the supervising attorney’s caseload, opportunities may exist to appear in a court or administrative proceeding.
Training & Mentorship
Both Internship Programs include substantive law training meant to expose students to substantive aspects of poverty law including eviction defense and housing issues, access to health care, and public benefits. Interns will also receive training in client interviewing, legal research and writing, and trauma-informed lawyering.
Interns will be placed with a supervising attorney who will help guide the intern’s work throughout the summer. Interns will have the opportunity to work with other legal advocates in their office as well. Applicants should indicate if they have a particular interest in one of our projects or areas of law.
Funding & Credit
Both internship programs are unpaid. We will work with you to fulfill any requirements necessary to allow access to work-study, public interest, or Equal Justice AmeriCorps funding. We can also assist students offered positions with pursuing externship credit in lieu of summer funding.
Application & Selection Process
Students may apply directly at the information below. We will interview candidates on a rolling basis through February 2024. All selection decisions will be made by April 2024.
To apply directly, please e-mail a cover letter including office preference, resume, unofficial law school transcript, and at least 2 references to hiring@vtlegalaid.org on or before Wednesday, January 17, 2024, with the subject line 2024 Summer Internship Program.
LEGAL SERVICES VERMONT AND VERMONT LEGAL AID ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYERS. WE ENCOURAGE WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OLDER PEOPLE, AND LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, QUEER, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO APPLY.