Law Student - Public Interest in Staten Island, NY

Public Interest

Staten Island, NY

Law Student - Public Interest in Staten Island, NY

Law Student

No

Job Title: Criminal Defense Practice Legal Intern - Fall 2025

Job Responsibilities:
The position of Criminal Defense Practice Legal Intern for Fall 2025 involves working directly with supervising attorneys within the organization’s Criminal Defense Practice. The Criminal Defense Practice is recognized as the primary public defender in New York City, offering holistic, client-centered representation to individuals facing misdemeanor, felony, and homicide charges. The essential duties and responsibilities of the intern include:

- Drafting motions
- Conducting legal research
- Assisting with investigations
- Assisting with client interviews
- Reviewing and organizing discovery
- Performing other duties as assigned by supervising attorneys

Interns will be under the supervision of Criminal Practice attorneys, and supervision will be conducted remotely if necessary. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend remote intern trainings, webinars, and CLEs relevant to their internship.

Education and Experience Information:
Candidates for the internship must be current 2L law school students in good standing. While relevant clinical program or work experience is preferred, it is not a requirement for the position. The position requires a demonstrated commitment or interest in indigent defense, as well as a commitment to serving racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities. Candidates must possess the ability to work collegially and collaboratively with all staff members, manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and think critically.

Salary Information:
This is an intern position and, as such, does not offer a salary. However, there is an opportunity for eligible interns to receive a $1,000 stipend from the Howard Rossbach fund. The stipend is intended to support 4-5 interns annually who demonstrate financial need and lack funding for their internship. To qualify for the stipend, interns must:

- Be enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited institution
- Complete the Howard Rossbach Internship Stipend Form when submitting their internship application
- Be accepted to participate in an internship program at the organization
- Demonstrate financial need and lack funding for their internship
- Submit a statement reflecting a strong interest in working at the organization upon graduation

Stipend recipients will be selected through a lottery system if more than 4 or 5 applicants meet the eligibility criteria. The stipend will be considered taxable income.

Application Process:
All applications must be completed online; paper submissions are not accepted. Interested candidates should visit the organization’s Careers Page for all current job postings and application instructions. For technical difficulties or questions regarding the posting, candidates can email .

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
The organization is dedicated to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice, and excellent representation. The organization prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants based on various characteristics protected by law, including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and more.

Required Documents:
Applicants must submit a combined PDF consisting of the following documents via the organization’s Recruitment Portal:

- Resume
- Cover Letter

Location: Citywide (New York, New York, United States)