New York Lawyers for the Public Interest ("NYLPI") seeks a volunteer summer intern anytime from mid May to mid August (dates flexible) to assist with trials, witness preparation, settlements, client outreach, and administrative tasks.
NYLPI is a nonprofit civil rights law firm committed to advancing equality and civil rights through community lawyering and partnerships with the private bar. The intern would work on the "Healthy Homes Project," which comes out of the Environmental Justice Program of NYLPI. The project's goal is to remediate indoor air pollutants and hazards such as mold, lead paint, infestations, and water leaks. Healthy Homes represents tenant associations (ranging from 15 tenants to several hundred) in group affirmative litigation against their landlords. Buildings are located in the South Bronx, West Harlem, and Lower Manhattan. The project also works closely with community organizers and other legal organizations, using a variety of legal and non-legal tactics, such as: media attention, policy advocacy, work with elected officials, protests, and rent strikes.
The ideal intern would be able to commit at least 15-20 hours a week but more time would certainly be welcome. Undergrads, graduate students, law students, and the unemployed/underemployed are all welcome to apply.
Desired skills include:
- Commitment to social justice and racial justice (including cultural sensitivity working with a diverse group of people)
- Reliability/punctuality
- Willingness/ability to travel around New York City frequently
- Spanish language skills are a huge plus but not necessary; Mandarin also a plus
- Able to learn tasks quickly and work independently
- Legal research skills are a plus but not a necessity
- Some availability on weekends and nights is ideal for tenant association meetings and legal clinics.
Hours/days worked are flexible as are as start and end date, but we are looking to hire as soon as possible.
