Job Title: Internship - Mental Health Litigation Division - Fall 2025
Job Responsibilities:
Mental Health Commitment Defense Units:
- Assist attorneys with representation of citizens facing involuntary civil commitment to mental health facilities and involuntary medical treatment for mental illness, including administration of anti-psychotic medications.
- Shadow several attorneys during the internship to gain practical experience.
- Develop a working understanding of . c. 123, the requirements for civil commitment, District and Municipal Court commitment proceedings, court-ordered medication proceedings, and the rules of evidence as applied in mental health cases.
- Visit clients and conduct interviews to obtain relevant information and ascertain the client’s position on their pending petition(s).
- Collaborate with independent medical experts, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social service experts, and other mental health professionals as requested by staff attorneys.
- Work with attorneys to prepare motions for funds, motions for in-person hearings, review medical records, direct examinations, cross-examinations of Designated Forensic Psychologists and Psychiatrists, and closing arguments.
- Develop research on race and equity issues in civil commitments and assist in developing a litigation guide for such issues.
- Conduct research into support for novel issues or arguments.
Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Support and Oversight Unit:
- Conduct legal research on systemic and specific issues affecting clients with mental disabilities.
- Draft practice materials for attorneys representing clients in mental health matters.
- Handle intake line calls from patients and clients in mental health facilities and provide information about their legal status, assignment of counsel, or referral.
- Assist the Mental Health Litigation Division Training Unit attorneys to create and edit training materials, and to develop and maintain Mental Health online training and resource initiatives.
Education and Experience Information:
- The internship is open to law students both with and without SJC Rule 3:03 Certification.
- Candidates who have completed their 2L year and are or can be 3:03 certified are preferred for assisting attorneys with representation in the Mental Health Commitment Defense Units.
- 1Ls are welcome to intern with the commitment defense offices to assist with client calls, reviewing medical records, and legal research.
- For the Mental Health Litigation Division Trial Support and Oversight Unit, law students who have completed their 1L year are sought for conducting legal research and drafting practice materials.
Salary Information:
- The internship is unpaid. However, the organization can work with students to support the receipt of externship credit or outside funding.
Legal Terminology and Important Information:
- The organization is committed to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.
- The organization values diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized, or underrepresented groups to apply.
- Candidates must have reliable transportation or access to public transportation to travel to courts and hospitals, and a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
- The organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Application Information:
- Interested applicants should submit a resume, a personal mission statement detailing their interest in the internship, personal qualities and background, and what draws them to this work, and a writing sample.
- Applicants should specify preferred office locations for the Fall 2025 Internship Program.
- Applications received prior to August 20, 2025, will be given preference.
