The Bronx Defenders 2026 Non-Legal Summer Volunteer Program

The Bronx Defenders (BxD) – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks passionate interns committed to public service and social justice to join our Non-Legal Summer Internship Program. This year, we will be offering internships in our Community Organizing, Investigations, Civil Action, Immigration, Policy, Communications and Information Technology Teams.

Founded in 1997, The Bronx Defenders is a public defender nonprofit that has developed a nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense, which provides people with teams of lawyers, social workers, and advocates to defend them zealously in court as well as to address the underlying drivers and enmeshed penalties of legal system involvement.

Since opening our doors, we have grown into an organization of more than 400 staff members defending nearly 20,000 New Yorkers each year in criminal, family, civil, and immigration proceedings who face incarceration, family separation, eviction, and deportation, among other devastating consequences.

Today we are reimagining the role of public defense even further, using community organizing and engagement, legislative advocacy, and impact litigation to partner with the communities we represent to bring about long-lasting systemic change.

We also share our model and lessons learned with current and future public defenders. We run two legal clinics at NYC law schools and train public defenders from one end of the country to the next on how to move to a holistic model of representation.

The Non-Legal Summer Volunteer Program

Over a period of 10 weeks, The Bronx Defenders Summer Volunteer Program provides interns with the opportunity to immerse themselves in one of our practice areas and play an integral role in holistic defense. Summer interns participate in a comprehensive holistic orientation, gain invaluable experience with community members, and develop critical professional skills.

This year, candidates can apply for internships with any one of the following practices:

• Community Organizing
• Investigations
• Immigration
• Civil Action Practice
• Policy
• Communications
• Information Technology

Community Organizing and Engagement

Our Community Organizing and Engagement Team focuses on fighting for systemic change, informed by the expressed needs of the Bronx community. Interns will support the Organizing and Engagement Project and engage Bronx residents in community organizing and engagement efforts around immigration, criminal justice reform, family reunification, education, housing, police accountability and more. Responsibilities include:

• Extensive community outreach, including phone banking, flyering, door knocking, street outreach, tabling and digital outreach. This work will entail significant amounts of time spent outside engaging with community members—rain or shine. A willingness to speak to strangers and excitement to galvanize people is a must
• Administrative responsibilities to properly document community organizing efforts
• Assisting with organizing Know Your Rights trainings and community meetings for Bronx organizations and community members
• Engaging with stakeholders such as educators, elected officials, and organizational leaders in the social justice field to build collaborative partnerships that will strengthen issue
• based work

To apply to this internship, candidates should demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding of the systemic issues that face racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communities, and more specifically, the South Bronx
• Familiarity with the Bronx community and/or experience collaborating with individuals from low-income communities of color
• Ability to work outside the office in the Bronx community
• Ability to be creative and approach community organizing and outreach with enthusiasm

Investigations

Investigators are a vital part of our interdisciplinary legal teams representing Bronx residents charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. The majority of Investigators’ work does not take place in the office but is carried out in the field: at private homes, on the street, in local businesses, and in the Bronx community. Ideal applicants for the Investigations Internship will be comfortable working in the Bronx community and possess the ability to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and gather evidence from and interview reluctant witnesses. The ability to speak Spanish is incredibly helpful in that regard. The schedule of Investigators often varies according to the availability of the witnesses so the ability to have flexible work hours is preferred. Responsibilities include:

• Gathering and reviewing time-sensitive video surveillance
• Locating, interviewing and taking detailed statements from prosecution witnesses accusing our clients of committing a crime
• Writing memoranda regarding investigative efforts and results

To apply to this internship, candidates should demonstrate:

• Comfort navigating the Bronx community and conducting in-home interviews
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to connect with reluctant witnesses
• Active listening skills and ability to memorialize important conversations
• Ability to think critically and creatively in unpredictable environments, approaching problems and setbacks with creativity and ingenuity  
• Ability to be resourceful and persistent in gathering evidence 

Civil Legal Advocate

A sweeping array of civil punishments are triggered the moment someone faces arrest, deportation, or family separation. The people we represent risk losing their jobs, homes, income, property, and basic civil rights – struggles that can be more devastating and long-lasting than the charges themselves. Civil Legal Advocates are a vital part of our interdisciplinary teams, operating in a variety of venues and providing a myriad of services to our clients. Civil Legal Advocate interns will support advocates in holding the New York City Police Department accountable for misconduct, as well as defending the property rights and access to housing and public benefits of our clients. Responsibilities include:

• Developing materials for our Know Your Rights Trainings
• Participating in our Notice of Claim Clinic to challenge police misconduct
• Assisting our clients with applications for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities
• Gathering documentation to prepare for hearings
• Providing support to our community intake program
• Working with our Legal Advocates to recover clients’ property confiscated in criminal proceedings

To apply to this internship, candidates should demonstrate:

• Interest in advocating for clients in addressing the civil legal issues that arise as a result of their contact with the criminal and/or family legal system

Immigration Civil Legal Advocate

Immigration Civil Legal Advocates collaborate with attorneys and social workers to help our clients fight their immigration cases, push for their release from detention, and advocate for them to remain in the country. This internship will provide interns with the opportunity to support that work. Responsibilities include:

• Obtaining records across the United States and overseas (e.g. criminal, medical, probation, school, taxes, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)) to aid in building our clients’ cases
• Collaborating with family and community members to draft letters of support and affidavits for our clients
• Conducting country conditions research to identify salient points for pull-out quotes and create an index
• Coordinating bond payments with family for clients’ release from detention
• Providing drafts of applications to be filed for relief from removal
• Coordinating voluntary departures and deportation with deportation officers and clients’ families

To apply to this internship, candidates should demonstrate:

• Interest in defending people with limited financial resources placed in removal proceedings or facing immigration consequences based on contact with the family and/or criminal legal system

Policy

Our policy experts collaborate closely with our practices and community engagement team so that our reform efforts are a comprehensive reflection of what Bronx residents need. Our policy reform work includes developing solutions to injustices, coalition building, legislative drafting and consulting, lobbying, advocating to the media, testifying before legislative bodies, and serving on bar committees and task forces. Responsibilities include:

• Conducting research on complex policy issues, government agencies, community organizations and elected officials
• Drafting letters, talking points, memoranda, reports and white papers
• Assisting with the development and training of community members who want to serve as leaders and lend their stories to public policy conversations
• Updating staff contact lists for state, city and federal legislators

To apply to this internship, candidates should demonstrate:

• Familiarity with the Bronx community and/or issues affecting low-income communities of color
• Ability to analyze complex issues and translate ideas into effective strategies
• Effective research and writing skills

Communications

The Communications team uses press outreach, social media, and graphic design to advance the organization's direct representation, policy, and community engagement priorities. In addition, the team provides strategic guidance on how the organization should talk about its work to change narratives about the people we represent and build support to dismantle the legal systems that oppress them. Responsibilities include:

• Drafting and scheduling social media posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Developing metrics reports on our press and social engagement
• Assisting with graphic design requests
• Updating and monitoring the editorial calendar
• Managing and executing tasks related to the 2026 Annual Gala

To apply to this internship, candidates should demonstrate:

• Familiarity with the Bronx community and/or issues affecting low-income communities of color
• Passion for using media to advance social and racial justice goals
• Effective research, writing, and/or graphic design skills

Information Technology

The Information Technology (IT) department is the first line of support in assisting our staff of attorneys, advocates, social workers, and administrative professionals. Our onsite help desk is designed to be a collaborative space for staff to seek technical advice and access IT support. Ultimately, the work of the department is meant to help advance the needs of our clients and facilitate the process by which their legal teams support and advocate for them to reach their goals. The IT intern will work on providing key desktop and technology support to the organization. Responsibilities include:

• Providing desktop and end-user support by responding to issues in a timely and effective manner
• Reviewing the ticket tracking system and resolving assigned support tasks
• Assisting users with various tech support items including but not limited to software installation, videoconferencing, printers, phone configurations, and projector setups
• Documenting support tasks and ticket resolution efforts in the call tracking system
• Interfacing with systems and network administrators
• Performing asset management duties

To apply to this internship, candidates should demonstrate:

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office
• Troubleshooting skills for Android, iPhone, iPad, and other portable devices
• Basic grasp of networking concepts and knowledge
• A+ certification is preferred but not required

Qualifications

To be eligible, all candidates must have:

• At least one year of college or vocational education OR one year of cumulative work or volunteer/internship experience in a professional setting
• Note: Students enrolled in law school are not eligible to apply for this internship

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Interest in working with racially and socio-economically marginalized communities targeted by the carceral system
• Interest in supporting individuals navigating the criminal, family, immigration and civil legal court systems
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences 
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively within a team
• Ability to multitask, maintain order and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment 
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordingly
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
• Proficiency in Spanish, French or Wolof is a plus, but not required

Our Volunteer Program will be taking place in-person from May 26, 2026 through August 4, 2026. If you would like to learn more about the work of our specific practice areas, you can refer to the following FAQ Document.

This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity, but if you wish to apply for funding through third-party fellowships, grants or universities, we are more than happy to support you in that effort.

Note that you are welcome to apply to more than one internship so long as you specify that in your cover letter. To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and cover letter in one document. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Applications will be accepted through January 25, 2026.

The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent, and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family, and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we serve.