Internships

Community Legal Aid and Affiliate accepts law student and undergraduate interns during the academic year (fall and spring semester), but primarily accepts interns for our 10-week summer internship program. Academic year interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week, to be arranged according to their class schedule. Community Legal Aid and Affiliate also encourages students participating in a co-op program to consider working with us for a semester or school year. Summer interns work full-time (35 hours a week) for 10 weeks and also participate in weekly learning sessions that introduce the different types of legal aid work at the organization.

Law School Student Internships 

Law student interns are assigned to one of Community Legal Aid and Affiliate’s substantive practice areas and will assist our attorneys in representing clients. Specific responsibilities vary by unit but may include:

• Conducting client interviews and advising clients with appropriate supervision
• Researching and drafting briefs and other legal documents
• Assisting in preparing pleadings
• Assisting in trial and/or hearing preparation
• Attending community meetings, outreach events, and/or court and agency hearings with staff advocates

We encourage students selected for internships with CLA to secure funding through law school public interest scholarships, work-study options, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation Internship stipends, or other funding sources. We pay our summer interns if they cannot receive summer stipends/funding from their law schools. To apply for a Spring/Fall internship, submit this general application along with your cover letter and resume to Ingrid Liu, Recruitment Coordinator, at iliu@cla-ma.org.

Summer 2025 Law Student Internship Opportunities:

• Dates: 6/2/2025 – 8/8/2025 (10 weeks)
• Format: Full-time (35 hours a week) on a hybrid schedule, a minimum of three days in the office
• Stipend: $20/hour, a total of $7,000 for the summer
• Opportunities available (as of March 25, 2025):
  • Family Law Unit – Fitchburg
  • Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Project – Springfield
    • Spanish language fluency required
• Application Process: To apply, submit this general application along with your cover letter and resume to Ingrid Liu, Recruitment Coordinator, at iliu@cla-ma.org. Alternatively, you can submit your application online.

Undergraduate Student Internships 

Community Legal Aid and Affiliate accepts undergraduate students year-around based on units’ needs.

Summer 2025 Undergraduate Internship Opportunities:

• Dates: 6/2/2025 – 8/8/2025 (10 weeks)
• Format: Full-time (35 hours a week) on a hybrid schedule, a minimum of three days in the office
• Stipend: We encourage students selected for internships with CLA to secure funding through their school. We pay our full-time summer undergraduate interns $15.50/hour, a total of $5,500 for the summer, if they cannot receive funding.
• Opportunities Available (as of March 25, 2025):
  • Immigration Law Unit – Springfield/Remote
    • Spanish language fluency required
    • Job Description: Intern responsibilities may include communicating with clients; helping clients complete immigration forms; assisting in hearing preparation and researching country conditions for asylum cases; and attending community meetings, outreach events, and/or court and agency hearings with staff advocates.
  • Disability Benefits Project – Springfield
    • The Disability Benefits Project (DBP) helps low-income residents of Central and Western Massachusetts, including children, resolve problems with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and the State Supplement Program (SSP).
    • Job Description: The intern will work with the unit to develop intakes. With supervision and training, they will interview clients and provide follow-up communications. We anticipate that they will assist with document filings and interact with medical providers and administrative agencies to make sure that clients’ cases are progressing accordingly.
• Application Process: Email your cover letter and resume to Ingrid Liu, Recruitment Coordinator, at iliu@cla-ma.org. Please make sure to indicate in your cover letter which summer opportunity you are applying to.