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About the Role

AFC's Summer Law Student Intern Program operates as a clinical model, where interns meet weekly for training sessions to learn about relevant law, regulations, cases, and trial skills. Interns have the opportunity to work on tasks in the areas of direct service, litigation, legal research, policy, and the development of public-facing resources, depending on the organization’s current needs. Interns are also able to work with a variety of teams across the office to see the full scope of AFC’s work. Interns are matched with attorney mentors with whom they meet regularly to discuss cases and assignments. Mentors work one-on-one with interns throughout the summer to develop their legal reasoning and advocacy skills. Additionally, AFC arranges for interns to visit a variety of schools and other educational programs throughout the summer. AFC’s summer law student internship program is extremely competitive and highly regarded in the public interest community.

Responsibilities

Work closely with clients (families of children ages 0-21 in NYC) throughout all stages of representation, from intake to investigation to settlement negotiations and from preparation to possible execution of administrative hearings regarding the provision of special education services.
Prepare documents and briefs related to impartial hearings, which are the administrative hearings for special education cases. This may include legal research, opening statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and closing arguments.
Assist attorneys with impact litigation and policy reform initiatives. AFC’s policy reform efforts focus on the needs of students most at risk of academic failure, including students in the child welfare and juvenile/criminal legal systems; immigrant students and English Language Learners; students in temporary housing; and students with special education needs.

Requirements

Current JD candidate at an ABA-accredited law school.
Understanding of and alignment with AFC’s mission.
Clear expression of interest in AFC and the communities we serve.
Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism principles.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice.
Personal and/or professional experience with the communities AFC serves, including people with disabilities, low-income and marginalized communities, and the public school system.
Ability to effectively engage across cultures, identities, and ethnicities, particularly Black and Latinx families.
Ability to engage with a variety of audiences that include parents, community partners, and NYC DOE staff.
Strong legal writing skills.
Organized, detail-oriented, and able to work independently on tasks and deliverables.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Applicants with fluency in a language other than English are highly encouraged to apply.

Skills

Legal research
Legal writing
Client representation
Litigation
Policy reform
Microsoft Office proficiency

Location

New York City
Hybrid

Work Type

Internship
Unpaid
Full-time
Hybrid

Experience Level

Law student

Education Level

JD candidate

Salary/Compensations

Unpaid

Benefits

Opportunity to work on direct service, litigation, legal research, policy, and public-facing resources.
Work with a variety of teams across the office.
Matched with attorney mentors.
Visits to schools and other educational programs.
Potential for law school funding or credit.

About the Company

Advocates For Children (AFC) is a dynamic social justice organization that strives to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success, focusing on students from low-income backgrounds.
AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile/criminal legal systems.
We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students.
AFC grounds our work in our organization’s values: Family-Centered, Expertise, Passion, Community, Justice, and Impact.
See www.advocatesforchildren.org for more information.

Equal Opportunity

AFC is an equal opportunity employer that actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff and encourages all applications including from people of color, persons with disabilities, parents of persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or gender expressions and persons of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
AFC is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability or other protected characteristic.
The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process.
To request accommodations, please email HR@advocatesforchildren.org.