2022 Summer Associate Program
Community is looking for dedicated, hard-working, and public-interest minded law students for its Summer Associate Program. Legal Aid has opportunities available for 2L’s (with or without intern certificate) and 1L’s in four of our Northeast Ohio offices. Summer Associates are expected to work unpaid for at least 10 weeks.
Overview
Legal Aid's Summer Associate Program provides law students an immersive, hands-on experience in civil law. Summer Associates will work in different areas of the law and may expect to interview clients, draft client letters, draft court pleadings, research relevant legal issues, attend and assist with court hearings, assist with discovery, analyze evidence, and complete various other tasks as assigned.
All Summer Associates will receive training in substantive areas of poverty law and may observe court hearings. Other professional development opportuntiies, such as brown bag lunches, may be available for Summer Associates to meet with judges, attorneys, leaders of local non-profit agencies, and other community members.
Qualifications
Applicants should have completed their first year of law school by the time they commence work in the summer of 2022. We give special consideration to students with a demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged people and communities. Students who speak Spanish are strongly encouraged to apply.
Funding
Due to limited financial resources, Legal Aid’s Summer Associate positions are unpaid. But applicants are encouraged to apply for summer funding through the following sources:
- Summer grants/fellowships offered through your law school.
- Equal Justice Works, AmeriCorps JD Program. In the past, this program did not offer cash awards, but was a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which could be applied to educational debt or future education costs. These were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and go quickly, so check the website and be sure to apply as soon as the application is available. Visit www.equaljusticeworks.org or e-mail americorpsjd@equaljusticeworks.org. (Note: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, so you will need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Equal Justice America. Visit www.equaljusticeamerica.org for application details.
- Work-study funding through your university. Some universities offer work-study funding for summer positions. Check with your law school financial aid office to learn more. (Note: Work-study money may reduce the amount of loans available to you for the following two semesters. Talk with your financial aid office to determine how work-study money may affect you.)
These are just a few of the many funding possibilities. For more funding opportunities, visit the “Funding Sources” page under “Resource Center” at www.psjd.org.
Course Credit / Externship Credit
Legal Aid often supervises students working for externship or other credit. Please indicate in your cover letter if you intend to work with your law school to receive course credit for your summer associate position. Please keep in mind that law students who apply through the Summer Associate Program are expected to work unpaid for at least 10 weeks.
Other Opportunities
If you are not interested in interning with Legal Aid in a full-time capacity for the summer but are interested in volunteering your time outside of the Summer Associate Program, you can still apply to be a student volunteer, outside the Summer Associate Program. Please complete and submit the volunteer application that is available on the website at https://www.communitylegalaid.org/community.
Application Process
To apply for the Summer Associate Program, please submit the following:
- Cover letter* explaining why you are interested in the Summer Associate Program and what you hope to gain from the experience
- Resume
- Contact information for three references
- Writing sample
- Completed summer associate application
*Please include the following in your cover letter: your top two projects preferences (see Summer Associate positions below) and whether you are willing to volunteer, will be receiving credit, are work-study eligible, or are applying for a public interest summer grant/fellowship.
Important Dates
Application deadline: Open until filled
Interviews: Rolling basis until positions are filled
Offers extended: Rolling basis (offers must be accepted within 72 hours)
Orientation session: Monday, May 23, 2022
Summer Associate session: May 23rd through July 29th
*Note: If you have a compelling reason for a different start date (such as military service), please provide an explanation in your cover letter.
2022 Summer Associate Positions
Advocating for Returning Citizens Project
Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law (HEAL) Project
Legal Assistance to Victims (LAV) Project
Neighborhood Law Project (NLP)
Systemic Advocacy and Impact Litigation Project
Community Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability.
