Placement Listings
The following is a list of the most popular internship placements. Additional internship opportunities may be found in the Clinical Programs Office binder in Room 1224 or arranged with other organizations.
Children's Law
Children's Legal Services, Inc. provides representation to indigent clients in child abuse and neglect, status offense (child in need of services or CHINS) and delinquency cases and serve as guardians ad litem in child abuse and neglect, CHINS, delinquency, special education, mental health and medical matters. A child in need of services is defined as a child who runs away from the home; refuses to obey the lawful and reasonable commands of his/her parents or guardian; fails to attend school or persistently violates the lawful and reasonable rules of the school.
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Civil and Human Rights/Discrimination
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
Law students work under the supervision of GLAD's staff attorneys on impact litigation cases. They have the opportunity to do substantive legal research and writing on a variety of cases. Interns are included in client interviews, depositions, community meetings and other facets of litigation.
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights provides free legal assistance under the "Project to Combat Racial Violence" for individuals subjected to harassment or violence because of their national origin or minority group. Committed to legal reform, this group brings class action suits regarding rights to education, housing and employment. This organization also promotes fair housing.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination in employment, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Equal Pay Act. Legal interns conduct legal research, draft memoranda on various legal issues, analyze documents and other evidence in cases, abstract depositions and organize discovery material.
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Education
Boston University - Office of the General Counsel
The General Counsel's duties/responsibilities include providing legal advice and assistance to the President, Provost and Trustees on legal matters affecting them and the university. Law students write memoranda and research on legal matters relating to a variety of substantive areas from employment and intellectual property to corporate and tax.
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Environmental
The Conservation Law Foundation is the oldest and largest environmental advocacy organization in the United States. Law students write memoranda and research on legal matters relating to land use, government regulations, charitable trusts, Constitutional, administrative and tax laws.
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Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General - Environmental Division
The Attorney General prosecutes civil judicial cases on behalf of the Commonwealth for statutory and regulatory violations, relating to wetlands, hazardous and solid waste, pesticides, clean air and waters, land use, forest cutting practices and Title 5.
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Finance
Securities And Exchange Commission
Legal Interns work with Enforcement attorneys in investigating and prosecuting possible violations of federal securities laws. Legal Interns assist Enforcement staff with a wide variety of tasks, including conducting legal and factual research, drafting legal memoranda, collecting and analyzing evidence, assisting in preparation for investigative testimony or depositions and assisting in preparation for hearings. In addition, Legal Interns have the opportunity to observe and participate in other aspects of the Division's enforcement activity, which may include attending investigative testimony, depositions, conferences, Commission meetings and court hearings.
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Health
The General Counsel's Office is responsible for representation of hospital management and staff. Legal interns will be involved in writing corporate compliance policies, drafting purchase and license agreements for pharmaceutical equipment and software and transportation contracts, interviewing witnesses, preparing affidavits and releases and summarizing new regulations for medical departments.
CareGroup (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)
Law students assist with the review and drafting of various contracts. Research relating to the due diligence process to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, laws regarding patient care issues, medical record documentation and patient rights, CareGroup's trademark and copyright issues and other legal issues relating to internet activities.
The General Counsel serves as in-house corporate counsel and Clerk of the Corporation for the Joslin Diabetes Center and Joslin Clinic. Law students research and write memoranda on areas from employment and contract to immigration and patient confidentiality.
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Judicial
Law students research and write judicial decisions and legal memoranda for Justices of the Probate and Family Court. The court's jurisdiction includes family matters (divorce, custody, child support) as well as trusts, wills and estates. Major duties include drafting judgments and orders for the justices and summarizing appellate cases for distribution to the justices.
Law students will serve as a clerk to the judge; observe court proceedings including settlement conferences and conferences with attorneys held in chambers; conduct legal research; and write legal memoranda and opinions for the judge.
Law students will serve as a clerk to the judge; observe court proceedings including settlement conferences and conferences with attorneys held in chambers; conduct legal research; and write legal memoranda and opinions for the judge.
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Litigation
Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General: Trial Division
The Trial Division represents the Commonwealth in state and federal actions involving contracts, employment, torts, eminent domain and/or real property. In addition to research, analysis and writing, law students have the opportunity to learn litigation and fact-finding skills first-hand.
U.S. Attorney's Office, Department of Justice
Law students assist attorneys in research and writing, case preparation, trial presentation and the drafting of memoranda and court pleadings. Law students are required to undergo an extensive background check before being accepted as student interns. Because the process can take eight to ten weeks, students must apply early to allow sufficient time before the start of the semester.
The Civil Division is responsible for defending the United States in tort (including medical malpractice), bankruptcy, employment, contract and administrative law matters. Their extensive affirmative docket encompasses a wide range of substantive areas, from government contractor and civil bank fraud to environmental protection and employment discrimination.
The Major Crimes Unit handles violent crime (arson, bank robbery, offenses against children, firearms offenses, kidnapping and threats); property crimes; bank fraud and embezzlement; mail and wire fraud; computer and credit card fraud; interstate transportation of stolen property; theft from interstate shipment; federal program fraud (including fraud against the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Veterans Affairs); civil rights violations; and other matters of primary federal interest including counterfeiting, customers' offense, immigration violations, labor offense and postal violations.
Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit
This unit handles narcotics violations prosecuted as federal crimes including drug-related racketeering, money laundering and tax crimes. This unit, with assistance from federal, state, and local enforcement agencies, investigates and prosecutes organizations responsible for large-scale narcotics trafficking. Drug unit cases range from "buy/bust" prosecution to sophisticated money laundering prosecution.
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Public Interest
International Institute of Boston
The International Institute of Boston provides relief in removal, political asylum and refugee cases. It also handles a wide range of immigration matters which require representation and pro se immigration assistance in the walk-in clinic.
Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project (PAIR)
Law students will assist the PAIR Asylum Staff attorney in representing directly or through PAIR volunteer attorneys asylum-seekers from throughout the world. This will include preparing INS application forms, interviewing asylum-seekers, researching human rights country conditions and compiling supporting documentation. It will also include work with the PAIR database to keep records current. The Law Student Intern will also assist the PAIR Detention Attorney in advising and representing detainees of the Immigration & Naturalization Service on their rights and possible relief from deportation and detention.
Shelter Legal Services Foundation
Shelter Legal Services provides pro bono legal services for the homeless and low income population throughout the greater Metropolitan area. Students conduct legal research on various issues affecting the poor and represent clients in administrative and judicial proceedings under the supervision of an attorney.