Intern

A RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) provides life-changing civil legal assistance to eligible residents in every part of the State. Since 1911, MLA has provided high-quality legal services to low-income and marginalized individuals and communities–helping them remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges and achieve stability, independence, and an overall better life.

Summary

The student intern/volunteer, under the supervision of a licensed attorney, gains exposure to the challenges and opportunities of providing civil legal services to those most in need; learns about basic policies and procedures of legal practice, office administration, and non-profit management; learns how to complete administrative forms, organize and provide supporting documentation; practice and apply basic interviewing techniques to conduct client intakes, including methods to develop trust with clients, ensure complete disclosure, and identify sensitive issues; tracks policy changes; conducts legal research; files and mails relevant documents; assists with special research or other projects; and other tasks as assigned.

Professional development opportunities provided through this internship include training in civil law and cultural competency, networking opportunities with community partners in the local area, and more.

Qualifications

• A junior or senior college/university student or a law school student; all majors will be considered.
• Prior experience and/or interest working with low-income populations.
• Prior experience and/or interest in law or providing non-profit civil legal services.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• An interest in dispute resolution and legal advocacy.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member in a fast-paced, cross-cultural environment with a diverse client base.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and web-based applications.
• Ability to work within an office environment and have regular interaction via in-person, telephone, videoconference, IM, and email.

Duration

Maximum of 15 hours per week for ten weeks during the semester.

Compensation

This is an unpaid internship position. Applicants may receive credit for service completed through their school program.

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume, cover letter, writing samples and references, demonstrating what interests you about this position and how your skills/experiences can contribute to the delivery of civil legal services to Maryland residents in need.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

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