Urban Justice Center (UJC) is Seeking Legal Interns and Volunteers – Safety net Project

The Urban Justice Center (UJC) invites applications for Legal Internships and Volunteers with the Safety Net Project (SNP). This opportunity is open to law students and is designed for individuals passionate about housing rights, economic justice, and providing legal services to low-income households in New York City.

The Safety Net Project operates at the intersection of direct legal service, policy advocacy, and community organizing to fight the housing crisis and support the city’s most vulnerable members.

Mission and Project Overview

The fight for affordable housing in New York City has reached a major breaking point. The Safety Net Project (SNP) advocates for safe and secure housing and fundamental resources like food and cash assistance. The project provides free legal services at clinics located in food pantries, soup kitchens, and community health centers.

SNP works to minimize evictions, ensure tenants obtain necessary repairs, and secure crucial public benefits for those eligible. As part of the broader Urban Justice Center (UJC), the project supports the organization's mission to serve vulnerable residents through systemic advocacy and political organizing.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Legal Interns and Volunteers will work directly to support SNP’s Staff Attorneys. The role involves a mix of litigation support, research, and direct client interaction:

• Litigation Support: Assist Staff Attorneys as they litigate matters in Housing Court.

• Research & Writing: Engage in comprehensive legal research and drafting of documents.

• Client Services: Conduct client intakes, outreach, and correspond with social service agencies to support cases.

• Administrative Support: Attend building-wide or client meetings and manage the delivery of files, checks, and documents to attorneys in court.

Recruitment Cycles and Deadlines

Unlike standard internships with a single deadline, SNP recruits on a seasonal basis. Applicants should apply during the following periods based on when they wish to start:

• Summer Internship: Recruitment period is February – April

• Fall Internship: Recruitment period is May – August

• Spring Internship: Recruitment period is September – November

Candidate Profile and Eligibility

• Academic Status: Applicants should be current law students.

• Commitment to Diversity: SNP is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds. This includes women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, people from low-income backgrounds, and those with personal experience with the criminal justice system.

• Lived Experience: Applications from people with lived experiences in the communities SNP serves are strongly encouraged.

Compensation and Benefits

This position is unpaid. However, the Urban Justice Center will provide necessary documentation and support to help students obtain financial funding or academic credit from their legal institutions.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants must submit their application via email. The application package must include:

1. A Resume

2. A Cover Letter

How to Apply:

Please send your materials to Sanai Merrick at [email protected].

Subject Line: You must use the subject line “SNP Legal Internship”.

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global Intern Desk (GID) is not the seeking organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GID, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.