Fall Law School Student Internship – Family & Children Unit

Organization Overview:

Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorados statewide nonprofit legal aid program with thirteen offices providing civil legalassistance to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal assistance in a broad variety of legal areas including family law public benefits eviction defense consumer protection services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking and many others.

CLS has strengthened lives assisted families and supported communitiesone person at a time for over 100 years. We are committed to providing high-quality free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive transformational change in the lives of those we serve.

We value representation.

At CLS we value and respect our staffs wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We ensure representation of our client communities in our staff Board of Directors and leadership teams. We also envision a fair just trusted and harm reductionist legal system which emphasizes access to and implementation of true justice for every Coloradan.

Position Summary:

The
Family & Children Unit in the Denver office
of Colorado Legal Services provides client-centered and trauma-informed advice and representation to low-income survivors of domestic violence in divorce custody and civil protection order actions in the Denver Metro Area.
The Family & Children Unit in the Denver office of Colorado Legal Services proudly serves Arapahoe Adams Broomfield Denver Douglas Elbert and Jefferson Counties providing excellent legal assistance advice and in-court representation to the most vulnerable people in the Denver Metro Area.

Law student interns in the Family & Children Unit begin working with clients on the very first day and can expect to feel essential to our office staff. This can be a full or part-time internship based on the needs/schedule of the intern.
They perform a variety of duties depending on their experience level and the needs of unit at the time of the internship.
These duties include client interviews and case investigation drafting of pleadings motions and notices in Dissolution of Marriage Allocation of Parental Responsibilities or Civil Protection Order actions legal research memoranda and briefs direct representation at court hearings (if authorized to do so under Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 205.7 Colorados Law Student Practice Act). Law student interns in the Family & Children Unit also have the opportunity to
participate in weekly staff meetings and attend client meetings court hearings mediations and settlement conferences for FCU cases.
Interns in the Family & Children Unit have the unique opportunity to get hands-on exposure in the area of family law. In addition to client-centered experiences Family & Children interns
participate in community outreach activities to learn more about the needs of our clients against the backdrop of day-to-day life as part of our income-eligible community.

Qualifications:

Legal professionalwith strong commitment to legal issues affecting low-income
survivors of domestic violence. The position requires excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to service in addition to an interest in research writing and interviewing. Candidate should be confident and able to work both independently and as part of a team.
Spanish-speaking ability is a plus.

Compensation:

The position is unpaid but is open to receiving other work study funds that are student generated. Students may apply for course credit through their Externship Program.

How to Apply:

TheFamily & Children Unit
requires a resume as well as a cover letter outlining qualifications and why the intern is specifically interested in interning for the Family & Children Unit in the Denver office of Colorado Legal Services. Please use the Apply for This Job link on the job description on our careers page no later than July 21st 2025. For any questions about this position please reach out to Kirsten Hoaby at .