What are the responsibilities and job description for the Fall / Spring Legal Intern (unpaid) position at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri?
Description
Our Mission
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri advances justice through legal representation, education and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness and create opportunities for those in need.
What We Do
Since 1956, we have provided free legal help for more than 1 million low-income individuals/families with civil issues impacting housing, family law, public benefits, consumer fraud, healthcare, children’s well-being, special education and relief from domestic violence.? In recent years, services have expanded to address the specific needs of immigrant and refugee families, veterans, community economic development and small-business and minority entrepreneurs. Legal Services now has five offices – St. Louis City- Downtown, St. Louis City- Old North, St. Louis County, Hannibal and Union – that serve 21 Missouri counties from the Iowa border to Potosi.
Legal Internship
Duties
Our legal interns are considered an important part of the team at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Interns typically work in one program all summer/semester. The specific duties of an intern will depend on the needs of that program. As a legal intern you may:
Our Mission
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri advances justice through legal representation, education and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness and create opportunities for those in need.
What We Do
Since 1956, we have provided free legal help for more than 1 million low-income individuals/families with civil issues impacting housing, family law, public benefits, consumer fraud, healthcare, children’s well-being, special education and relief from domestic violence.? In recent years, services have expanded to address the specific needs of immigrant and refugee families, veterans, community economic development and small-business and minority entrepreneurs. Legal Services now has five offices – St. Louis City- Downtown, St. Louis City- Old North, St. Louis County, Hannibal and Union – that serve 21 Missouri counties from the Iowa border to Potosi.
Legal Internship
Duties
Our legal interns are considered an important part of the team at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Interns typically work in one program all summer/semester. The specific duties of an intern will depend on the needs of that program. As a legal intern you may:
- Shadow attorneys in court, including at hearings, status conferences, trials and settlement negotiations
- Attend client meetings and make phone calls to clients with case updates or to obtain information
- Draft pleadings on new cases, assist with discovery in ongoing cases, draft and serve subpoenas
- Perform research on legal issues for specific cases or for more systemic or ongoing projects
- Write legal memoranda summarizing research findings
- Draft policy letters and write papers
- Assist in preparing for and attend community education and outreach presentations/events
- Enrolled in an accredited law school
- Demonstrated interest in public interest law work and/or working with low-income communities and individuals
- Ability to engage and collaborate with clients from diverse backgrounds
- Ability to work effectively in a team and collaborate with colleagues
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong work ethic, high motivation, and able to take initiative and be resourceful
- Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and able to handle confidential information with discretion
- Knowledgeable in Microsoft Office/365 and able to learn new software, including case management systems