Why intern with LAS?
The Legal Aid Society’s Internship Program allows law students to make equal access to justice a reality. Interns help expand Legal Aid Society’s capacity to provide legal services to clients in need.
The Legal Aid Society pairs each law student with a staff attorney supervisor. Interns have the opportunity to:
- Interview clients
- Prepare pleadings, motions, and discovery requests/responses
- Conduct legal research
- Present cases at case acceptance meetings
- Attend court dates (711 license required)
- Argue motions in court (711 license required)
Opportunities
*Applications are now open for Spring 2025. Summer 2025 hiring will begin in early 2025.*
- DuPage Domestic Violence Internship
- Safe Families Program Internship
- Health, Housing & Economic Stability Internship
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to LASInterns@metrofamily.org. Please include which practice group you are applying to in the subject line of your email.
Funding
Legal Aid Society provides a very limited number of paid internships; however, there are many options for external funding. Some great sources of funding for public interest internships are:
- Public Interest Law Initiative
- Equal Justice America
- Equal Justice Initiative
Addtionally, many law schools provide stipends to students wishing to intern at a public interest organization. We are happy to assist with any funding applications.
LAS also accepts applications from students wishing to extern for credit.
Intern Spotlight: GENESIS
Genesis Hernandez first joined the Legal Aid Society as a summer intern in 2019. She worked with Supervising Attorney Andrea Belard in the Safety & Family Practice Group. After interning with a judge for a semester, Genesis returned to LAS to work with us again for the spring.
“I love interning at LAS because I feel welcome and embraced by everyone here. I am included in meetings with clients, with the staff, and I get to observe and learn from the best. I am here to serve the clients and assist the attorneys, but it stood out to me when an attorney told me, the staff is also here to help me. I really value how everyone takes the time to sit with me, answer any questions, and explain case information and procedures.”
– Genesis Hernandez, Family Law Intern