What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2026 Summer 2L Legal Intern position at Legal Aid Justice Center?
About The Legal Aid Justice Center
The Legal Aid Justice Center is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that partners with low-income clients and communities of color in Virginia to fight for racial, social, and economic justice. We understand that the harms our clients endure are inextricably linked to overarching systems of injustice. Together we are dismantling those systems through a combination of community organizing, litigation, policy advocacy, public relations, and individual legal services.
Founded in 1967, LAJC provides services under six key programs: Civil Rights & Racial Justice, Health Justice and Public Benefits, Housing & Consumer Justice, Youth Justice, and Immigrant Advocacy. The Civil Rights & Racial Justice Program (CRRJ) works to end the criminalization of poverty in Virginia by exposing and addressing criminal legal system policies that target people because of poverty and race. The Health Justice and Public Benefits Program (HJPB) promotes health equity by dismantling legal and financial barriers to healthcare access and protecting and advancing people's rights in the administration of public benefits programs, such as unemployment, food stamps, cash assistance, and disability insurance. The Housing and Consumer Justice Program (HCJ) engages in systemic advocacy to assist individuals and families in Virginia who face housing and consumer protection issues, including evictions from their homes, egregious housing conditions, and unlawful debt practices. The Youth Justice Program (YJP) partners with youth, their families, and their communities to achieve racial justice, social justice, and economic justice for all young people by dismantling systems that create and perpetuate poverty. Our Immigrant Justice Program (IJP) supports low-income immigrants across the state in their efforts to find justice and fair treatment through representation in legal proceedings, legal advice regarding their rights, helping them take steps to empower themselves and prepare for the worst, recovery of unpaid wages they have earned, combatting workplace and housing discrimination, and fighting for civil rights. The Worker Justice Program provides legal services, resources, and community legal education to low-income workers in remote areas of the state, including farmworkers and seafood workers, poultry and meatpacking workers, and other immigrant and migrant workers.
LAJC has office in Charlottesville, Richmond, Petersburg, and Falls Church, and last year our clients hailed from 55 different cities and counties in every corner of the Commonwealth. Because we know that communities are stronger when everyone's rights are respected, we work with our individual clients to identify their neighbors facing the same challenges so that they can advocate together for solutions that meet community needs.
Last year, we helped over 3,500 people facing loss of their stable housing and over 900 people get or maintain access to health insurance, Medicaid, or other public benefits. We helped over 700 people navigate our immigration system, and we helped youth in 26 different communities enforce their right to a high-quality public education. We continue to represent 1,200 women and trans people held at the Fluvanna Correctional center for Women in their fight to get basic healthcare. Historically, LAJC reached a settlement agreement with the Federal government putting in place important protections for detained people from the threat of COVID-19 at ICA-Farmville Detention Center, including a dramatic reduction in the number of people who can legally be held at the facility; we (together with Virginia Poverty Law Center, Legal Aid Works, and pro bono partners Consumer Litigation Associates and Kelly Guzzo, PLC) succeeded in getting the Virginia Employment Commission to release more than one billion dollars in "stopped" payments to nearly 180,00 Virginians; we fought the reinstatement of presumptions against bail, which result in accused persons being held in jail until their case is resolved; conducted outreach to thousands of farmworkers around the Commonwealth, organized alongside workers and community coalitions in rural and urban areas throughout the state, and recovered significant monetary damages on behalf of victimized workers; and in 2022, the Fund Our Schools Coalition, of which LAJC is a founding member, won the largest ever investment in the At-Risk Add On ($145 million), which will supplement funding at high-poverty schools.
LAJC boldly tackles issues of systemic injustice and to raise public and policymaker awareness of some of the most pressing challenges facing low-income Virginia residents.
Required Qualifications
LAJC seeks a law student intern to join our team for Summer 2026. Current 2Ls are eligible to apply. Depending on the office/program, interns typically have a wide variety of experiences, including carrying out legal research and writing, conducting intake interviews, interviewing clients and non-clients, advocating in administrative and courtroom settings and assisting in hearing preparation, engaging in policy research and advocacy, and organizing. Interns are based in one of our three offices. Minimum work commitment for all positions is 400 hours (10 weeks x 40 hours per week)
We are piloting a funding program for 2L interns. In order to have resources fairly distributed across the organization, each program and our litigation team will be allotted ONE paid position for a total of 7 inters. The paid program is meant to increase our capacity, attract a diverse talent pool, and provide meaningful opportunities for individuals who may not have access to traditional funding sources. Each intern will be eligible for $8,000 of LAJC funding for a 10-week internship. Programs can work with unpaid rising-2L students outside of their one paid position.
Applicants must submit a cover letter and current resume. Applicants should specify the LAJC legal program(s) of interest and preferred office location. Applicants interested in working with the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Program must be willing to commit to working primarily in our Richmond office. The Immigrant Justice Program, Health Justice and Public Benefits, and Worker Justice Program prefer to recruit students who are proficient in Spanish. For applicants interested in the Worker Justice Program, preference will be given to those who are interested in engaging client communities in rural areas and willing to undertake occasional travel to visit workers and community members.
LAJC will review applications on a rolling basis until February 28, 2026, or until positions are filled. Please direct questions to Maisie Osteen, Senior Supervising Attorney and Internship & Fellowship Coordinator.
All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for evidence that applicants have experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations.
The Legal Aid Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. The Legal Aid Justice Center is committed to strengthening the voices of our low-income clients, working in collaboration with community partners, and rooting out the inequities that keep people in poverty. We strive to take on the issues that have broad impact on our client communities and to be responsive to client input. Recognizing the particular impact of racism on our clients and staff, we devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for evidence that applicants have experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations.
Employment Type: Full Time
Salary: $20 Hourly
Bonus/Commission: No
The Legal Aid Justice Center is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that partners with low-income clients and communities of color in Virginia to fight for racial, social, and economic justice. We understand that the harms our clients endure are inextricably linked to overarching systems of injustice. Together we are dismantling those systems through a combination of community organizing, litigation, policy advocacy, public relations, and individual legal services.
Founded in 1967, LAJC provides services under six key programs: Civil Rights & Racial Justice, Health Justice and Public Benefits, Housing & Consumer Justice, Youth Justice, and Immigrant Advocacy. The Civil Rights & Racial Justice Program (CRRJ) works to end the criminalization of poverty in Virginia by exposing and addressing criminal legal system policies that target people because of poverty and race. The Health Justice and Public Benefits Program (HJPB) promotes health equity by dismantling legal and financial barriers to healthcare access and protecting and advancing people's rights in the administration of public benefits programs, such as unemployment, food stamps, cash assistance, and disability insurance. The Housing and Consumer Justice Program (HCJ) engages in systemic advocacy to assist individuals and families in Virginia who face housing and consumer protection issues, including evictions from their homes, egregious housing conditions, and unlawful debt practices. The Youth Justice Program (YJP) partners with youth, their families, and their communities to achieve racial justice, social justice, and economic justice for all young people by dismantling systems that create and perpetuate poverty. Our Immigrant Justice Program (IJP) supports low-income immigrants across the state in their efforts to find justice and fair treatment through representation in legal proceedings, legal advice regarding their rights, helping them take steps to empower themselves and prepare for the worst, recovery of unpaid wages they have earned, combatting workplace and housing discrimination, and fighting for civil rights. The Worker Justice Program provides legal services, resources, and community legal education to low-income workers in remote areas of the state, including farmworkers and seafood workers, poultry and meatpacking workers, and other immigrant and migrant workers.
LAJC has office in Charlottesville, Richmond, Petersburg, and Falls Church, and last year our clients hailed from 55 different cities and counties in every corner of the Commonwealth. Because we know that communities are stronger when everyone's rights are respected, we work with our individual clients to identify their neighbors facing the same challenges so that they can advocate together for solutions that meet community needs.
Last year, we helped over 3,500 people facing loss of their stable housing and over 900 people get or maintain access to health insurance, Medicaid, or other public benefits. We helped over 700 people navigate our immigration system, and we helped youth in 26 different communities enforce their right to a high-quality public education. We continue to represent 1,200 women and trans people held at the Fluvanna Correctional center for Women in their fight to get basic healthcare. Historically, LAJC reached a settlement agreement with the Federal government putting in place important protections for detained people from the threat of COVID-19 at ICA-Farmville Detention Center, including a dramatic reduction in the number of people who can legally be held at the facility; we (together with Virginia Poverty Law Center, Legal Aid Works, and pro bono partners Consumer Litigation Associates and Kelly Guzzo, PLC) succeeded in getting the Virginia Employment Commission to release more than one billion dollars in "stopped" payments to nearly 180,00 Virginians; we fought the reinstatement of presumptions against bail, which result in accused persons being held in jail until their case is resolved; conducted outreach to thousands of farmworkers around the Commonwealth, organized alongside workers and community coalitions in rural and urban areas throughout the state, and recovered significant monetary damages on behalf of victimized workers; and in 2022, the Fund Our Schools Coalition, of which LAJC is a founding member, won the largest ever investment in the At-Risk Add On ($145 million), which will supplement funding at high-poverty schools.
LAJC boldly tackles issues of systemic injustice and to raise public and policymaker awareness of some of the most pressing challenges facing low-income Virginia residents.
Required Qualifications
LAJC seeks a law student intern to join our team for Summer 2026. Current 2Ls are eligible to apply. Depending on the office/program, interns typically have a wide variety of experiences, including carrying out legal research and writing, conducting intake interviews, interviewing clients and non-clients, advocating in administrative and courtroom settings and assisting in hearing preparation, engaging in policy research and advocacy, and organizing. Interns are based in one of our three offices. Minimum work commitment for all positions is 400 hours (10 weeks x 40 hours per week)
We are piloting a funding program for 2L interns. In order to have resources fairly distributed across the organization, each program and our litigation team will be allotted ONE paid position for a total of 7 inters. The paid program is meant to increase our capacity, attract a diverse talent pool, and provide meaningful opportunities for individuals who may not have access to traditional funding sources. Each intern will be eligible for $8,000 of LAJC funding for a 10-week internship. Programs can work with unpaid rising-2L students outside of their one paid position.
Applicants must submit a cover letter and current resume. Applicants should specify the LAJC legal program(s) of interest and preferred office location. Applicants interested in working with the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Program must be willing to commit to working primarily in our Richmond office. The Immigrant Justice Program, Health Justice and Public Benefits, and Worker Justice Program prefer to recruit students who are proficient in Spanish. For applicants interested in the Worker Justice Program, preference will be given to those who are interested in engaging client communities in rural areas and willing to undertake occasional travel to visit workers and community members.
LAJC will review applications on a rolling basis until February 28, 2026, or until positions are filled. Please direct questions to Maisie Osteen, Senior Supervising Attorney and Internship & Fellowship Coordinator.
All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for evidence that applicants have experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations.
The Legal Aid Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to apply. The Legal Aid Justice Center is committed to strengthening the voices of our low-income clients, working in collaboration with community partners, and rooting out the inequities that keep people in poverty. We strive to take on the issues that have broad impact on our client communities and to be responsive to client input. Recognizing the particular impact of racism on our clients and staff, we devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for evidence that applicants have experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with traditionally marginalized populations.
Employment Type: Full Time
Salary: $20 Hourly
Bonus/Commission: No
Salary : $20
