Summer 2026 Law Student Internship
Summer 2026 Law Student Internship
Employer Active
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Share
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Not Disclosed
Salary Not Disclosed
1 Vacancy
Job Description
CLS offers a rich and exciting summer internship experience for 15-20 law students who have completed their first or second year of law law students receive exceptional training and the opportunity to work with some of the most talented legal minds in civil legal services. All CLS interns will have the opportunity to work directly with clients engage with the communities we serve and contribute to systemic advocacy efforts to advance economic and racial equity.
Interns are placed into one of our legal units:
Health and Independence
SSI
Housing
Home Ownership and Consumer Rights
Family Advocacy
Energy
Employment
Youth Justice Project
Medical Legal Partnership
CLS welcomes applicants of all backgrounds to apply and strongly encourages law students from diverse backgrounds to apply for our internship. CLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences would motivate you to work toward CLSs mission and would contribute to the vitality and perspective of our organization.
To apply please submitthe following materials through our website. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. ( letter addressing interest and experience in public interest and poverty law/racial justice advocacy
Law school transcript
List of three (3) references (at least one academic reference and at least one professional reference)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates of the Summer 2026 internship Are those dates flexible
The internship is a 10-week program from Monday June 1 2026 to Friday August 7 2026.
Students are generally allowed reasonable flexibility for family or other obligations so long as they complete the ten-week program and are compliant with the terms of any work study or other external funding they receive. There is a week of mandatory orientation the week of June 1-5 2026.
Is the internship funded
Generally the internship is unpaid. However fellowship stipends are available and awarded on a rolling basis. Please check back for more information and indicate your interest in your cover letter. We are also happy to support any requirements for work study or other external funding sources like Equal Justice America.
What are the work hours What are the in-person requirements
CLS operates Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff are expected to work in-person 2 days per week; however students are encouraged to be in person more frequently as needed and to get the most out of their summer.
Do I get to choose which unit I work with Can I work across multiple units
Unit placements are assigned when we have filled our full class of interns usually in April. When students accept their internship they rank their top 3 units. With rare exceptions we are able to place students in one of their top 3 choices but cannot guarantee placement in any unit.
Students are encouraged to staff CLS clinics for other units and can shadow another unit if they express an interest but are generally assigned to one unit for the entirety of their summer work.
What if I want to work in the Housing Unit
Our housing unit prioritizes 2L students especially from Philadelphia-area law schools. We encourage housing-focused students to apply for their 2L summer!
What if I am not a law student What if I am a law student and would like to intern during the fall or spring semester
Please contact our HR department by emailing Shaneika Patterson at emailprotected and/or Crystal Stackhouse at emailprotected.
Click here to read our Diversity & Inclusion Committee mission statement.
Required Experience:
Junior IC
Employment Type
Intern
