Law Student Internships

Build Up Justice NYC seeks bright, energetic students who are committed to, or interested in, learning more about a career in public interest law and working with a nonprofit organization.

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC (formerly Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A) has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies-community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy. Build Up Justice NYC has three core programs-Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program-each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

Interns will be assigned to a specific program or department and, depending on assignment, may have the opportunity to do legal research and writing, client interviewing and counseling, community education, representation at administrative or court hearings, and trial advocacy. In addition, through special programs and training sessions, interns will be exposed to the full range of Brooklyn A's practice.

Unless otherwise noted, Build Up Justice NYC's internships are unfunded. Students must either volunteer or secure outside funding through work study, law school or foundation-funded public interest fellowships, or similar programs. Many former interns have successfully arranged for their own funding by combining work-study and public interest grants. Students should inquire about public interest funding sources at their law school.

Build Up Justice NYC accepts applications for internships on a rolling basis year round. Interested students should send a resume and cover letter indicating, in order of preference, the program they are interested in and their available hours.