Ongoing Legal Interns
About
The Free to Be Youth Project (FYP) seeks law students as applicants for semester-based internships/externships (spring, fall, or summer). FYP is one of eight independent projects at the Urban Justice Center. FYP is a legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education project that focuses on the legal needs of homeless and street-involved lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) young people (up to age 24) in New York City.
FYP works to interrupt the cycles of poverty and criminalization that prevent LGBTQ+ youth from living fulfilling, enriching lives. We advocate for LGBTQ+ young people living in poverty on a wide range of issues, including safe and affirming access to shelter, benefits, accurate identification documents, employment, and legal immigration status.
Legal Interns will engage in client intake, interviewing, and outreach; conduct legal research and writing; observation of court proceedings and/or administrative hearings; and advocacy and representation with administrative agencies. Interns work as a team with the Staff Attorneys and Project Director to ensure quality legal service provision, identify systemic priorities, and develop FYP’s capacity to take direction from the communities we serve.
This will be a hybrid position with a combination of virtual and in-person work.
Qualifications
Currently in Law School
Passionate about the mission of FYP and the areas of LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and youth advocacy
Skills
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Detail oriented and organized
Excellent time management skills and self-initiative, comfortable working both collaboratively and independently
Have a team spirit, strong work ethic, and a sense of humor
To Apply
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample via email to Project Director, Amy Leipziger, at aleipziger@urbanjustice.org with the subject line “FYP Internship.” Only applicants whom we wish to interview will be contacted.