Disability Rights New Jersey is the designated protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities in the diverse state of New Jersey, providing individual and systemic advocacy and legal representation, training and technical assistance and outreach to protect legal, civil, and human rights.

Disability Rights NJ seeks a summer legal intern (rising 2L or 3L) to join our Sarah W. Mitchell Summer Internship Program.

Disability Rights NJ’s summer interns work thirty-five hours per week for ten weeks. Compensation for this internship is $1000 weekly for rising 3Ls and $800 weekly for rising 2Ls. We welcome students who have secured alternative funding as well. The internship offers law students the opportunity to connect and work along-side legal professionals through a hybrid work environment in a variety of disability-related practice areas.

DEADLINE for APPLICATIONS: Friday January 17, 2025

Responsibilities for a law student intern may include: 

• Research legal issues and draft memoranda on issues in individual client cases or to support Disability Rights NJ’s systemic advocacy and litigation.
• Work alongside staff attorneys and advocates in individual client representation at all stages, from interview, advice, counseling, document review, to appearance in hearings. 
• Draft complaints, demand letters, petitions, certifications, affidavits, or other documents for individual client representation.
• Support systemic projects addressing abuse or neglect of individuals with disabilities, which may include, but is not limited to, research, data collection and analysis, interviewing, drafting reports.
• Monitor, analyze, and advocate for state legislative and administrative reform through the creation of resources to better implement existing laws and drafting policy comments
• Conduct outreach and education activities aimed at increasing awareness of Disability Rights NJ or educating individuals, their families, or professionals on a variety of disability-related topics.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Current law student in good standing at an accredited law school
• Ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative and practical solutions
• Excellent written and oral communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills
• Strong research skills and familiarity with Westlaw
• Ability to present information in an accessible way
• Cultural competence: experience working with low-income, immigrant, or minority populations
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Teams, Zoom, and other frequently used computer programs
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail

If interested, please email a resume, letter of interest, and writing sample to [email protected].