The Legal Aid Society’s (LAS) Criminal Defense Practice Paralegal Services Unit has unpaid internship opportunities for the Fall 2026 term. The internship provides students with hands-on experience in public interest law and advocacy. This role offers exposure to the legal system while contributing to meaningful work that impacts underserved communities.
The Legal Aid Society is built upon one simple but powerful belief: no New Yorker should be denied the right to equal justice. As the largest, primary, and oldest public defender in New York City, The Legal Aid Society strives to deliver justice in every borough while working tirelessly to make our city a better place. We work to protect the rights of the marginalized and disenfranchised in our society. For 150 years, The Legal Aid Society of New York has stood with immigrants, low-income families, workers, and everyday New Yorkers across all five boroughs as your partner in justice. From courtrooms to classrooms, sidewalks to city halls, Legal Aid has empowered communities with the tools, voice, and representation they deserve. We have a unique opportunity for those who believe in our mission.
Program Details
- The Fall 2026 Internship Program begins on August 31, 2026, and runs through December 10,2026. The internship is an unpaid, part-time, in-and person. No remote positions are available.
- Location: In-person at one of The Legal Aid Society’s borough offices
- Hours: 18–28 hours per week
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Perform clerical, organizational, and project-based assignments necessary to support litigation teams
- Support attorneys and Litigation Assistants in preparing exhibits, documents, videos, and demonstratives for hearings or trials
- Accompany attorneys to court, when appropriate, to observe proceedings and assist with logistics
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled as a junior or senior in an accredited educational institution pursuing an undergraduate degree
- Strong writing, research, computer technology, social media, and communication skills are required
- Demonstrated commitment to racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities
- Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with all members of the staff
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and think critically
- Comfortable traveling throughout NYC
HOW TO APPLY
All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.
