Civil Rights Law Society
Community Action and
Pro Bono Opportunities

Below is a list of civil rights organizations with which CLS students have worked in the past on a pro bono basis. The Center for Public Interest Law administers Columbia's pro bono program and has more information on many of these organizations. Feel free to contact CPIL at 212-854-6158 for more resources or guidance.




AUTHOR'S GUILD, INC
330 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036-6902
Telephone: (212)563-5904
Fax: (212) 564-8363
E-mail: staff@authorsguild.org
Website: www.authorsguild.org

The Author's Guild is one of the foremost published writers' organization in the United States. The Author's Guild works to promote the rights of writers in the areas of contracts, copyright, taxation, and freedom of expression. In addition, the Guild holds frequent panel discussions on law and practices in the publishing industry and works to improve legislation relevant to the interests of its members.

Students respond directly to members' legal inquiries which include, reviewing publishing contracts, advising an author in a dispute with his or her agent and researching copyright or First Amendment issues. Work within the Guild highlights areas of civil liberties, civil rights, arts, products liability and tax.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2001 student reviewed and analyzed agent and publishing contracts. Student also wrote an initial draft of a contract review. Other students conducted client intake and performed legal research and writing. A Fall 1999 student described her experience as a "very interesting experience, fulfilling and challenging."



DIRECTOR'S GUILD ASSOCIATION
110 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Telephone: (212) 581-0370

Today, through the collective voice of more than 12,000 members the Director's Guild Association seeks to protect directorial teams' legal and artistic rights, contend for their creative freedom, and strengthen their ability to develop meaningful and credible careers.

Students are primarily involved in legal writing, research, client intake and counseling.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student reports, "The expectations were clear. Much of the work assigned was clerical; preparing binders to assist attorney in labor arbitrations. this was a bit boring...I had 2 memos assigned, both were interesting topics. More interesting."

Spring 1996 student describes the work at DGA as, "Very interesting, DGA shows how lawyers can be problem solvers; I was able to interact with many other entertainment lawyers; learned great deal about guilds and labor relations in entertainment industry."



ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN (AFC)
151 West 30th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 947-9779
Fax: (212) 947-9790
E-mail: info@advocatesforchildren.org
Website: www.advocatesforchildren.org

AFC works for equal education opportunities, quality education services, meaningful school reform and reduction of school failure among New York City's Public School students.

Students will update digests of administrative decisions, research and prepare legal memoranda on education issues and assist with individual cases. Students work deal with a wide range of practice areas, including but not limited to Administrative, Civil Rights, Education, Family, Legislative/Policy and Children.



CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, INC
404 Park Avenue South
Eleventh Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (212) 683-2210
Fax: (212) 683-4015
E-mail: info@childrensrights.org

Children's Rights serves as a watchdog for children across the nation to ensure that government systems deliver the services they promise and to ensure a chance for a decent childhood that all children deserve. When systems repeatedly fail to respond to pressure from local advocates, Children's Right, Inc. investigates and files class action lawsuits to force change.

Attorneys, policy analysts and the local and regional child welfare experts identify problems within government systems and forge solutions that increase training, funding and accountability to ensure better overall care for children in the custody of government agencies across the nation.

Student Evaluations

Along with legal writing and research, the Spring 2000 student also reviewed case summaries and drafted summaries of deposition transcripts. The student described the work at the Children's Rights Inc. as "interesting, compelling work" with "top-notch attorneys".



THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY
NEW YORK JUVENILE RIGHTS DIVISION

90 Church Street
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 577-3615
Fax: (212) 577-7965
Website: www.legal-aid.org
Contact: Judy Waksberg: (212) 577-3642

The Juvenile Rights Division (JRD) of the Legal Aid Society was one of the first organizations in this country to represent children in a juvenile court. JRD provides legal representation for children in child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, termination of parental rights and persons in need of supervision proceedings within the five Family Courts in New York City.

JRD conducts a year round internship program where students are assigned to trial offices where they assist experienced attorneys in the preparation and litigation are provided with an opportunity to learn about Criminal, Family and Youth/Children practices, engage in client
Contact and participate in litigation. All students receive initial training to become familiar with these practice areas as well as follow-up training sessions on specific legal issues as needed.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student interviewed children, parents and foster parents for child protective hearings. She made home visits when clients were unable to come into the office, called case workers and foster agencies to check on the status of clients. Student also recommended this internship for people who have prior experience working with children, provided that most of the clientele are children.

Spring 1999 student performed client
Contact and case preparation. Student found the work at the Juvenile rights division to be very fulfilling and interesting.



DOOR - LEGAL SERVICES CENTER
121 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: (212) 941-9090
Fax: (212) 941-0714
E-mail: monica@door.org
Website: http://www.door.org
Contact: Rebecca Durand

The Door Legal Services Center provides 20 free and confidential programs and services to nearly 6,000 New York City youth. The Center provides a broad range of counsel, education, and advocacy in civil matters. Young people seek assistance from the Center in a wide variety of areas including but not limited to immigration, public benefits, foster care, housing, employment discrimination, custody, child support, financial aid and consumer issues.

Student Evaluations

The Fall 2000 students both had great experiences at the Door Legal Services Center. They worked on several areas of law, including immigration, consumer rights and foster care. Along with legal research and writing, one student updated pamphlets on the legal rights of youth when interacting with the MTA and the police. She described her experience as a, "Great Experience! I had a diverse experience during my short time there and was exposed to client interaction and research."



ASSOCIATION FOR THE HELP OF RETARDED CHILDREN
200 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: (212) 780-2586
Fax: (212) 780-2353
Website: http://www.ahrcnyc.org

The aim of AHRC's work is to help disabled individuals live up to their maximum potential in their communities. With a membership of over 12,000 individuals, the Association is one of the largest consumer-based, nonprofit organizations in the City of New York.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student performed legal writing and research and conducted client intake and counseling.



ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10013-2815
Telephone: (212) 966-5932
Fax: (212) 966-4303
E-mail: info@aaldef.org
Website: http://www.afj.org
Contact: Glenn D. Magpantay, Esq.

AALDEF provides consultation and counseling to low-income and immigrant Asian Americans at free legal clinics in the following areas: immigration, family law, government benefits, anti-Asian violence, police misconduct, employment and voter discrimination. In addition, AALDEF is part of the National Asian Pacific American Law Consortium (NAPALC), and participates in the writing and researching of reports on policy issues such as affirmative action and voting rights.

Students will assist in community education, grassroots organizing, legal research and writing for litigation and legal advocacy.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2000 student reports that he helped one Korean worker to do a deposition, and translate it into English. He also researched racial discrimination cases toward Asian-Americans and performed memo-writing. The student describes his work: "Helping a poor illegally fired worker is quite rewarding. For one Korean immigrant, I worked with one attorney at AALDEF and two more students. This was a good opportunity for me to understand real deposition work and trial."

The Fall 1997 Student reported that he learned a great deal in regards to the naturalization process and recommends this pro bono opportunity to other students. Student states: "AALDEF is a great place to get exposed to committed lawyers devoting their life to pro-bono activities."



ASSOCIATION OF THE BAR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
42 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036-6689
Telephone: (212) 382-6629
Fax: (212) 354-7438
E-mail: abcnycolp@abcny.org
Website: http://www.abcny.org

ABC of New York addresses a variety of major public policy issues including judicial selection, International human rights, the status of minorities and women at the Bar, state and federal legislation and virtually every substantive area of services to the community, including an extensive pro bono program and legal referral service.

Student Evaluations

The Spring 2001 student reports that her work consisted of filing immigration petitions, counseling clients and helping them fill out the forms properly, helped with green card and work authorization applications. She felt that her assignments were clear and that she had adequate training sessions with attorneys and prospective clients.

The Fall 2000 student performed research on education issues for the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and attended meetings of the State Legislation Committee. The student describes her work as, "interesting and substantive; Professor Gordon provided adequate guidance and support. This assignment is an independent research project. Consequently it invites interaction with other lawyers, but no client
Contact."



BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
161 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: (212) 998-6328
Fax: (212) 995-4550
Contact: Paul Sonn
E-mail: paul.sonn@nyu.edu
Website: http://www.brennancenter.org

The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan center for discourse and action on issues of social justice. The Center quickly became one of the leading legal institutions in the field, producing a long line of scholarships, litigating cases in several states, advising legislators and officials at the federal, state and local levels as well as serving as general counsel for a wide range of reform groups.

The Center has many up and coming and already established programs such as the Democracy Program, the Poverty Program, the Criminal Justice program and many more. These programs have many projects which call for student assistance. Such student duties includes legal research and writing.

Student Evaluations

Both students in the Spring 2001 placements edited materials for publication about voting rights enforcement and redistricting. One student describes his experience: "Great placement-work was extremely interesting."



NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD (NLG)
NATIONAL OFFICE

126 University Place, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10013-4538
Telephone: (212) 627-2656
Fax: (212) 627-2404
E-mail: nlgno@nlg.org
Website: http://www.nlg.org
Contact: Laura B. Gilbert

The National Lawyers Guild is an association dedicated to the need for basic change in the structure of our political and economic system. The goal of NLG is to unite lawyers, law students, legal workers and jailhouse lawyers of America in an organization that will become an effective political and social force in the service of the people of America.

The Guild has a wide variety of projects which students assist in. Such projects include the International Monitoring project, Volunteer Immigration project and the Street Law project.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student conducted legal writing and research. Student states, "NLG is a very good phase to fulfill the pro bono requirement. The work is interesting and all the lawyers are very professional & friendly. I enjoyed doing work for NLG."



NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
125th Broad Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (212) 344-3005
Fax: (212) 344-3318
Website: http://www.nyclu.org

NYCLU is the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nationwide, non-partisan, non-profit organization founded in 1920. NYCLU is an advocate of individual rights - litigating, legislating, and educating the public on a broad array of issues affecting individual freedom.

Students perform legal research and writing projects, as well as some education, if the student so wishes.

Student Evaluations

One Spring 1999 student did extensive legal research and writing, as well as case preparation.

Spring 1998 student states, "Excellent work environment, casual dress and casual hours."



CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS (CCR)
666 Broadway, 7th Floor
Telephone: (212) 614-6464
Fax: (212) 614-6499
Contact Person: Bill Goodman
Website: http://www.constitutionalrights.com

The Center for Constitutional Rights is an independent nonprofit legal, educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CCR is committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.

Students participate in all phases of litigation, legislative advocacy, community organizing, and public service initiatives. Students also attend meetings and court appearances attended by CCR attorneys. Fluency or profiency in Spanish helpful.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1999 student reports, "Before I began my placement, I had no idea what the center was, much less how effectively I could be used to bring forms of International law to bear on offenders. I know now that I have a better sense of how lawyers can use these norms for good."

Spring 2000 student states, "Great placement. They really take the time to explain things and are willing to take you in on the strategizing. My supervisor is a really great teacher. They also do a lot of interesting non pro bono work."

Spring 2001 student performed Constitutional Law Research; prepared a counter-petition for the Supreme Court of the United States; researched involved topics of 1st Amendment Rights (Freedom of Speech) as it applied to foreign entities. The student reports, "The quality and clarity of the assignment was very satisfactory. Supervisor provided me with sufficient advice, materials and time to complete my tasks."



NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND (NY)
99 Hudson Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: (212) 965-2238
Fax: (212) 226-7592
E-mail: mwoods@naacpldf.org

The NAACP's principal objective is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of United States and eliminate race prejudice. The NAACP seeks remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes. This mission is accomplished by seeking the enactment and enforcement of federal, state and local laws securing civil rights, and by informing the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2001 student conducted legal research and writing. Student reports, "The work and the lawyers are fabulous; everyone should work there."



COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS
Rockland County
19 Squadron Boulevard
New City, NY 10956
Telephone: (845)638-5660
Fax: (845)638-5667
Contact: Terry LoMeli, Litigation Assistant

The Office of the Public Defender offers legal representation to indigents charged with indictable criminal offenses who cannot afford to be represented by private attorneys. Law Student Internship Program volunteers are needed to assist in all aspects of criminal law within the work load of the office.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1999 students assisted trial attorneys in legal research in writing. The students also had courtroom exposure.



LEGAL AID SOCIETY-NY
PRISONER'S RIGHTS PROJECT

90 Church Street
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 577-7980
Fax: (212) 577-7957
Contact: Jonathan Chasan
E-mail: jchasan@legal-aid.org

The Society's diverse practice and recognized leadership in the areas of civil legal work, criminal defense and juvenile justice make it a truly unique, full-service institution. The Society's staff handles more than 220,000 indigent criminal cases, acts as law guardian to more than 40,000 children and represents more than 38,000 families as well as individuals and community groups with pressing civil matters. At the same time, the Legal Aid Society conducts major class action litigation on behalf of thousands of homeless families, welfare recipients, foster children, elderly poor, inmates at Rikers Island and other prisoners.

Each student is assigned to work with a group of three attorneys who will act as mentors. They will involve students in all aspects of their cases. Attorneys will provide students with research and writing projects that will be used in the defense of Legal Aid clients. Students can also look forward to attorneys supervision on any courtroom work and client
Contact.

Student Evaluations

One Spring 1997 student described his experience at the Legal Aid Society as: "A great program that motivated me to engage in some very worthwhile and rewarding work. I've had a great time at Legal Aid and I plan to keep volunteering my time for them until I leave New York."

Spring 1996 student states, "I thought the quality of my supervision, clarity of assignments and working atmosphere was excellent...It exceeded my expectations as to the atmosphere and congeniality I felt with the Lawyers at LASPRP."



LEGAL OUTREACH, Inc.
MOCK TRIAL PROGRAM

509 West 129th Street
New York, NY 10027
Telephone: (212) 690-5928
Fax: (212) 690-5935
E-mail: LegalOutreach@aol.com

Legal Outreach is a non-profit, legal education organization, participates with Columbia University in a joint program called The Legal Outreach Mock Trial. The Mock Trial involves sixty-four Harlem seventh and eighth graders paired off as criminal prosecution and defense teams.

The law student coaches work with their teams over a nine week period to prior to the trial to prepare their case for the competition.

Student Evaluations

One Spring 2000 student reports, "It was a great experience; and I actually learned just as much as the kids." Another Spring 2000 student describes her experience at The Legal Outreach Mock Trial program as "a fabulous program; The directors and teachers at IS 43 were incredible. The kids were a joy to work with. This was my most valuable experience in law school thus far."



NEW YORK LEGAL ASSISTANCE GROUP (NYLAG)
130 East 59th Street, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10022-1302
Telephone: (212) 750-0800
Fax: (212) 750-0820
Contact: Richard Greenberger
E-mail: rgruenberger@nylag.org

NYLAG is a non-profit firm which, provides free legal assistance to low income individuals in civil, criminal, domestic violence, family, immigration, poverty, Social Security and Public Benefits cases. Our clientele represent the most at-risk members within metropolitan New York, including elderly and disabled individuals, families on welfare, battered women, children with special needs, immigrants and other low to no income New Yorkers.

NYLAG's services include legal assistance through direct representation, impact litigation, consultation for both social service professionals and their clients, community legal education, and volunteer programs for attorneys, law graduates, and students. NYLAG's impressive 90 person staff is comprised of salaried and volunteer attorneys, case handlers, law students and other legal students, in addition to clerical volunteers.

Students will be responsible for client
Contact, research, writing as well as motion practice, discovery, and if desired, direct representation. This is an excellent opportunity to not only learn the work of a legal services attorney but also to gain practical, hands on legal experience.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2001 student counseled Holocaust survivors on various compensation available to them and how to qualify for it. Other students in previous placements performed legal research and writing.



UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

555 4th Street NW, Room 5626
Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: (202) 307-0377
Fax: (202) 305-7459
Contact: Alicia Hubbard

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia represent the interests of the United States in civil litigation, and respond to the public safety needs of the community by leading an effective, well-coordinated law enforcement effort that contributes to the overall goal of improving the quality of life in the District of Columbia.

The U.S. Attorney's office has Fall Internship positions available for second and third year law students. The students are needed to assist attorneys with case preparation within the Office on either semester credit or on a volunteer basis. Students will perform a variety of functions, but their work will consist principally of legal research, writing and trial preparation.



HUMAN RIGHTS LAW REVIEW
A JAILHOUSE LAWYER'S MANUAL (JLM)

435 West 116th Street, Box-25
New York, NY 10027
Website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/hrlr/jlm.html

A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual (JLM) is a handbook of legal rights and procedures designed for use by incarcerated individuals. The JLM informs prisoners of their legal rights, shows them how to secure these rights through the judicial process, and guides them through the complex array of procedures and legal vocabulary that make up this system. The JLM also instructs prisoners in techniques of legal research and explains the need to take note of important legal developments.

The Human Rights Law Review is constantly looking for students to collaborate in the researching and writing of new chapters in JLM.

Student Evaluations

One Spring 1999 student reports, "It was a great placement. I felt that I was able to contribute in a somewhat unique way by using my Spanish skills to help people who would otherwise not have access to information necessary to file an appeal on their case."

One Fall 2000 student researched professional legal translators--Contacted and communicated with them; performed research and wrote foundation proposal; drafted fund raising letters--mailings to alumni and firms; networked with alumni and researched other funding options. Student states, "I am struck by the "unpopularity" of certain causes among funders. Finding funding from firms, alumni, and foundations has been a challenge. Efforts will have to continue through the summer and fall. Prisoners rights is a hard subject to sell."



OFFICE OF THE APPELLATE DEFENDER (OAD)
45 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: (212) 719-0766
Fax: (212) 764-0236
Contact Person: Renee Reso

The Office of the Appellate Defender is a non-profit firm devoted to providing high quality representation to indigent defendants primarily in criminal appeals state court and collateral proceedings in state and federal court.

Students at OAD review trial records, research appellate issues and draft briefs on behalf of clients under the supervision of experienced attorneys. OAD prefers students interested in criminal law and representation of indigents.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1999 student performed legal research and writing. Student describes his placement at OLA: "This is a good placement for those interested in criminal work. It is writing/research intensive."



CAPITAL DEFENDER OFFICE (NY)
915 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: (212) 780-5620
Fax: (212) 780-5649
Contact Person: Glenda Grace

The Capital Defender Office (CDO) represents death-sentenced defendants on direct appeal to the New York State Court of Appeals. CDO also provides ancillary appellate and motion support to capital trial teams. CDO, created by statute, is charged with guaranteeing effective assistance of counsel in every capital case throughout New York State.

The Capital Defender Office has several research projects for law students to work on. Examples include: cruel and unusual challenge under the New York Constitution; death penalty qualification; mitigating and aggravating factors at penalty phase; etc. In addition, case specific research projects will be available.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student enjoyed working at the Capital Defender Office. The work was very complex, challenging Constitutional litigation. The student felt that the placement at CDO was understaffed. Student reports, "if you show initiative - they will give you a great deal of responsibility."



NEW YORK CITY CORPORATION COUNSEL
AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION DIVISION

100 Church Street
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 788-0987
Fax: (212) 788-8887
Contact: Florence Hunter

The Affirmative Litigation Division at the Office of the New York City Corporation Counsel generally brings law suits on the behalf of the City, which range from suing gun manufacturers and participating education finance system, to recovering damages caused by construction in the city's parklands and conducting insurance takeover lawsuits.

The Division is looking for Columbia Law School Students who are interested in participating in ongoing litigation projects during the school year. Students will have the opportunity to work on a variety of matters that are active at the time of the Internship.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1996 student enjoyed working at the Affirmative Litigation Division. The student reports that his supervisor is a great lawyer to work for and recommends this Internship to any future Columbia student who's interested in "the nuts and bolts of the city's legal department."



JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS
COUNCIL OF NEW YORK
JEWISH LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

70 West 36th Street, Suite 700
Telephone: (212) 983-4800
Fax: (212) 983-4084

The Jewish Community Relations was founded to protect and defend Jewish interests. Today, JCRC represents 60 major Jewish organizations, from local chapters of national civic, educational and religious agencies, to neighborhood based community councils.

The Jewish Legal Assistance Program in particular, works with non-profit and religious organizations. The Council seeks law students interested in doing non-profit/tax exempt corporate work for the Program. Students duties include legal research and writing as well as client intake and counseling.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1999 student states: "I really enjoyed working at the JCRC. The atmosphere was really nice and I was able to speak to people inside as well as outside the legal profession about issues that face the Jewish community in the US."

Spring 2001 student reports, "Good placement for someone interested in tax or corporate law. Also, if you are interested in future pro-bono work, as a lawyer in NYC, you make a lot of
Contacts with heads of NYC non-profit organizations."



QUEENS LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
LONG ISLAND CITY OFFICE

42-15 Crescent Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
Telephone: (718) 392-5646
Fax: (718) 937-5350

The Queens Legal Services Corporation provides legal assistance in the areas of Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Supplementary Security Income, food stamps, public assistance, home care and home improvement/foreclosure fraud.

The Office is seeks students to perform pro bono research on a number of different litigation topics. Research extends to many different projects within the Corporation including, the Education Rights Project.

Student Evaluations

All the students enjoyed and appreciated their experience at the Queens Legal Services Center. In particular, one Spring 1999 student reports, "The tasks were very interesting. It felt good actually doing work that I knew was going to assist clients. I was given an opportunity to be exposed to different cultures and learn about their legal needs."



NEW YORK LAWYERS FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST, Inc.
(NYLPI)

151 West 30th Street, 11th floor
New York, NY 10001-41007
Telephone: (212)244-4664
Fax: (212)244-4570
E-mail: INFO@NYLPI.org
Website: http://www.afj.org/mem/nylpi/html
Contact: Marianne Engelman Lado: mlado@nylpi.org

NYLPI is a non-profit public interest firm engaged in impact advocacy and test case litigation in disability law, health law, environmental justice and land use law as it pertains to low income, minority communities. In addition, NYLPI sponsors a clearinghouse of pro bono projects where its participating law firms provide assistance to individuals, community organizations and non-profits that cannot afford counsel on a broad range of public interest issues.

Student Evaluations

Both Spring 2000-2001 students performed legal research and writing. One student describes NYLPI as a "a wonderful organization doing wonderful work. I actually worked there both semesters- just never got around to submitting the times in the fall. Other students should do their pro bono hours with NYLPI."



SOUTH BROOKLYN LEGAL SERVICES
105 Court Street, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11201
Telephone: (718) 237-5500
Fax: (718) 855-0733
E-mail: chipg@sbls.org

South Brooklyn Legal Services is a non-profit legal aid organization involved with litigation, community education and development as well as legislative and administrative advocacy.

Students perform legal research and writing in the following units: housing, family, government benefits, SSI and HIV.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1996 student researched and wrote a memo on group exemptions under the Internal Revenue Code for subsidiary organizations set up for discrete projects by the CED Units clients.

One Spring 2001 student performed research and drafted a memo on adverse possession for client seeking to prevent eviction by federal government in a low-income housing unit.



NORTHERN MANHATTAN IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION (NMIC)
76 Wadsworth Avenue
New York, NY 10033
Telephone: (212) 822-8300
Fax: (212) 740-9646
Website: http://www.nmic.org

Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation is a not-for-profit legal and social services agency located in the Hispanic community of Washington Heights/Inwood in New York City. NMIC also takes on Citywide action and impact litigation in the areas of childhood protection from lead paint poisoning; equal enforcement of housing maintenance standards; access to emergency benefits upon application at city job centers; and the safeguarding of constitutional rights of tenants in housing court

Students responsibilities include legal research and writing.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1999 student reports, "Working at NMIC and w/Mr. Kelly is an interesting and fun way to fulfill the pro bono requirement. In addition, the subject matter is of great use both for those on whose behalf I worked and for myself."

One Spring 1999 student describes his experience at NMIC as very efficient supervision.



AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS (AJC)
15 East 84th Street
New York, NY 10028
Telephone: (212) 360-1545
Fax: (212) 861-7056
Website: http://www.ajcongress.org

The American Jewish Congress is dedicated to the protection of civil rights, defense of civil liberties, and elimination of political, social and economic discrimination based on race, religion, ethnic origin or sex. It has been active in courts and legislatures in defense of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. Other areas of involvement include hate crimes and abortion rights.

Student students may perform legal or policy research, participate in litigation or legislative hearings, draft publications, participate in community relations projects, or assist with Legal Clinic cases.



COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS - NY
89 Chambers Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 964-5900
Fax: (212) 964-1303
Contact Person: Mary Brosnahan

The Coalition is one of the first advocacy organizations to confront the current crisis of mass homelessness. The Coalition is committed to defending the right to emergency shelter, and using litigation, education and community organizing to press for access to affordable housing, and employment at a living wage or guaranteed livable income for those who cannot work.

Students will have a wide array of responsibilities which may include: interviewing clients and witnesses, taking affidavits, extensive legal research, case development, testimony at hearings and community board meetings, press work, and appearing in court as part of a litigation team.



NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
1 Police Plaza
New York, NY 10038
Telephone: (212) 374-5400
Fax: (212) 374-0284
Contact Person: Thomas P. Doepfner

The Police Department is currently implementing a civil enforcement initiative, involving work with the community police officers and members of the community to address quality of life concerns in the community.

Students will assist in giving advice as to the legality of certain actions by police officers, and may also work on civil legal actions against the department.

Student Evaluations

Past students performed legal research and writing. Many students received a lot of interaction with Administrative Law Judges as well as great courtroom experience.



WELFARE LAW CENTER
275 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1205
New York, NY 1001-6708
Telephone: (212) 633-6967
Fax: (212) 633-6371
Contact Person: Henry Freedman
E-mail: freedman@welfarelaw.org
Website: http://www.welfarelaw.org

The Welfare Law Center is a national organization with an office in New York City that has provided poor persons, their organizations, and their advocates with comprehensive legal representation and advice on welfare matters since 1965. The Center is involved in ground-breaking litigation in preventing local governments from illegally denying poor the opportunity to apply for needed benefits. The Welfare Law Center is also engaged in and developing litigation to enforce due process guarantees for welfare recipients in relation to their rights to childcare assistance and to challenge illegal fair hearing policies.

Students work with attorneys on all aspects of the Center's program, including research for new impact litigation, discovery on pending litigation, research regarding issues raised by new state welfare laws, and various projects on behalf of organizations working to organize workfare participants.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student reports, "I enjoyed working for the Welfare Law Center. I found my supervisor to be very responsive to my inquiries, often getting back to me on the same day and assisting me to the utmost. Moreover, she was friendly and appreciative about my efforts."

Spring 2001 student researched and compiled a "know your rights" pamphlet regarding child care and child care benefits in Illinois. Student also spoke with child providers in Illinois.



THE WORKPLACE PROJECT
(CENTRO de DERECHOS LABORALES)

91 North Franklin Street, Suite 207
Hempstead, NY 11550-3003
Telephone: (516) 565-5377
Fax: (516) 565-5470
Contact Person: Saru Jayaraman
E-mail: sarulove@yahoo.com

The Workplace is a nonprofit center for Latino immigrant workers on Long Island. The Project provides labor-related legal services, Community Outreach and education about workers' rights, and organizing support to Immigrant workers.

As part of their legal services, the Project assists workers with a wide variety of employment claims, including nonpayment of wages, union problems, health and safety issues, unemployment, discrimination and other workplace rights issues.

The Workplace project seeks law student students and volunteers to facilitate strategy sessions with the workers and protests against non-paying employers, as well as to work with the United States Department of Labor to resolve these cases. Fluency in Spanish a must.

Student Evaluations

One Spring 2001 student translated the proceeding of a federal lawsuit for employment discrimination to Latino workers. Other tasks were to write letters of grievance on behalf of workers, translate a deposition, and organize a press conference.

Another Spring 2001 student wrote an unemployment insurance appeal. Student states, "A student needs to be ready to be self-reliant and resourceful at this placement. That stated, there is not a better place to learn about law and organizing models."



NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW PROJECT
55 John Street, 7th Floor
Telephone: (212) 285-3025
Fax: (212) 285-3044
Contact Person: Jim Williams
E-mail: jimwilliams@nelp.org

The National Employment Law Project (NELP) is a national organization advocating for the working poor and the unemployed by expanding their employment rights and access to support systems. Primary areas of advocacy within NELP include: welfare to work issues; job creation; the Family & Medical Leave Act; employment rights of immigrant labor; and an expansion of eligibility requirements for unemployment insurance.

Students will focus on assisting people excluded from the mainstream economy, a group primarily consisting of people of color, women, immigrants, and contigent workers. Students will work closely with community based organizations, labor unions, public interest groups, service providers and legislators. Specific duties include providing litigation support and legal research, and preparing and conducting worker rights trainings to garment workers and other low-wage workers.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student reports, "The work was not the most exciting , but for a good cause...Don't be mislead by the 'not the most exciting comment' - I learned a lot of substantive law about an important issue and the experience was a very good one. The people at NELP are wonderful with no exceptions, and the atmosphere in the office is very laid back and egalitarian. It is a refreshing change of atmosphere from a large NYC law firm."



ASSOCIATION TO BENEFIT CHILDREN
EAST HARLEM HIV CARE NETWORK

419 East 86th Street
New York, NY 10028
Telephone: 212-831-1322
Website: http://www.a-b-c.org
Contact: Eri Ngouchi

The Association to Benefit Children provides comprehensive family support services to homeless and struggling families in East and Central Harlem. The new program, East Harlem HIV Care Network, is a consortium of agencies and individuals concerned about the provision of services and care to people with HIV/AIDS in East Harlem. The Network aims to improve the availability, accessibility, quality and coordination of services for persons living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Students at the Association to Benefit Children will be working within the East Harlem HIV Care Network. Assignments include legal writing and research.



URBAN JUSTICE CENTER
MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT

666 Broadway, 10th Floor
Telephone: (212) 533-0540
Fax: (212) 533 4598
Website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ssw/acsj/ujc
Contact: Bill Lienhand Tel. (646) 602-5667

The Urban Justice Center is an advocacy organization representing poor and disenfranchised people in New York City. The Mental Health Project of the Urban Justice Center provides both legal and social work to low-income New Yorkers with psychiatric disabilities.

Student students will have the opportunity to investigate potential impact litigation on a variety of issues, including the failure of the city's agency in charge of protecting the mentally ill, the widespread fraud in the privatization of Medicaid, and the extreme difficulty the new welfare application poses for mentally ill people.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2001 student represented an indigent, mentally ill client before the New York Administrative Law Judge to challenge state action potentially depriving her of welfare benefits unless she worked. Work involved significant case preparation, and
Contact with client and her social worker.



HIV LAW PROJECT, Inc.
841 Broadway, Ste. 608
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: (212) 577-3001
Fax: (212) 577-3192
Website: http://www.hivlegalnyc.org

The HIV Law Project is a non-profit legal services agency representing low-income individuals with HIV who reside in the Bronx, Manhattan or are homeless. The Project provides a full range of civil legal services particularly in the following areas: housing, immigration family and entitlement law. The Project also engages in policy advocacy as well as training for women living with HIV.

Students perform legal research and writing to support direct services litigation. Spanish is helpful.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1995 student reports, "This placement allows anyone with an interest in AIDS law to work on hot topics in NY and nationwide. However, I did not have much
Contact with my supervisor."

Spring 1998 student states, "I was generally impressed by the attitude, professionalism and kindness I received and observed at the HIV Law Project. They showed consideration by even finding me work at this late stage of my 3L Spring semester."



BAZELON CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH LAW
1101 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: (202) 467-5730
Fax: (202) 223-0409
Website: http://www.bazelon.org

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is a national non-profit legal advocacy organization which seeks to protect the rights of both adults and children with mental disabilities. The Bazelon Center has successfully challenged the barriers that face children and adults with mental illness or developmental disabilities within public schools, workplaces, housing and other opportunities for community life.

Student students at the Bazelon Center perform legal writing, research and client
Contact.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student states, "It was wonderful. Assignments were meaningful and clear, supervision and training were excellent; interacted with private attorneys as well as public interest lawyers, social workers, other professionals and consumers."



THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY
BROOKLYN OFFICE FOR THE AGING

111 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Telephone: (718) 645-3111
Fax: (718) 645-4151
Contact Person: Diane Lutwak
E-mail: delutwak@legal-aid.org
Website: http://www.legal-aid.org

The Brooklyn Office for the Aging of the Legal Aid Society is a community-based legal services organization devoted to the diverse needs of the elderly poor. This office serves clients aged 60 and over, and works on numerous poverty issues including landlord/tenant and benefits. The office is also involved in state and federal impact litigation.

Students will assist staff in case handling responsibilities, including client interviews, legal research and writing, settlement negotiations, agency advocacy and trial preparation. Students will be exposed to both state and federal court litigation at the administrative, trial and appellate levels.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student states, "I have a much greater appreciation for Legal Aid type organizations and I am reminded of the large groups of people who can't afford to pay a lawyer to receive help."

Spring 1999 student describes her experience at the Brooklyn Office for the Aging: "It was enjoyable and worthwhile. I gained some experience in that field of law. I understand better the practical realities of working for Legal Aid. Supervision and staff attorneys were available. The assignments were clear."



MENTAL HYGIENE LEGAL SERVICE (MHLS)
60 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: (212) 779-1734
Fax: (212) 679-4359
Contact Person: Cliff Karr

Mental Hygiene Legal Service provides representation, without charge, to patients in psychiatric hospitals and residents of developmental centers who need legal advice or assistance concerning their institutionalization. Such representation sometimes takes the form of telephone calls, letters and meetings.

Students help represent clients at judicial administrative hearings as well as legal research and writing.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1996 student performed legal research and writing. Student felt that the staff at MHLS were very accessible when she had questions.



LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY (LSE)
130 West 42nd Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: (212) 391-0120
Fax: (212) 719-1939
Contact Person: Jonathan Weiss

Legal Services for the Elderly (LSE) is an advisory center for lawyers who specialize in the legal problems of older persons. Issues of interest to the LSE include, but are not limited to, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, supplemental security income, unemployment insurance, disability, voluntary and involuntary commitment, involuntary committee appointment, conservatorship, intestacy, age discrimination, pensions, elderly rent increase exemptions, rent control/housing, and nursing home care.

Students work with one or more attorneys in casework in Disability and Elderly Law, intakes, and assistance in litigation.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student reports, "I worked there my first year summer, so I was familiar with what I was doing and didn't need much supervision. I worked closely with the director on certain things he needed done."



THE NEW YORK ASSOCIATION FOR NEW AMERICANS, Inc. (NYANA)
17 Battery Place
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (212) 425-5051
Website: http://www.nyana.org
Contact: Steven D. Heller
Telephone: (212) 425-7260

NYANA is one of the largest not-for-profit providers of educational, social, legal and business services to immigrants and refugees. NYANA has assisted nearly 500,000 refugees and immigrants from more than 145 countries to become independent members of American Society.

NYANA seeks law student students to assist in representing individuals before the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and the Immigration Court. Practice areas include: asylum; naturalization, employment and family-related visas; relief for victims of domestic violence under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); and removal/deportation defense.

Student Evaluations

Fall 2000 student worked with domestic violence victims to help them get a new type of visa. Student also wrote memos that advised clients on whether they should apply for naturalization, in light of their criminal convictions. Student describes her experience at NYANA, "I rarely did the same thing, and I was even able to solicit the types of assignments that I wanted. I got substantive work and I appreciated the significant client
Contact. My supervisor was also very flexible and this worked very well."

Spring 1995 student reports, "The work was excellent. Clients were mostly Pro Bono cases. I was given free rein to take a case from start to finish, except arguing in court."



AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL-NY (AIUSA)
322 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 633-4200
Fax: (212) 627-1451
E-mail: admin-us@aiusa.org
Website: http://www.amnesty.org

Amnesty International is an International grassroots movement. Much of AIUSA's work is done by a network of volunteer groups. There are professional networks of lawyers, health professionals and educators.

AIUSA invites students to join their efforts to release prisoners of conscience, to focus on targeted country campaigns, or to work on other human rights issues such as torture, refugees, and the death penalty.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student states, "I was fortunate to find a placement project well-suited to my skills and able to teach me something. I plan to continue to do similar work. An excellent program."



HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH (HRW)-NY
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
Telephone: (212) 290-4700
Fax: (212) 736-1300
E-mail: hrwnyc@hrw.org
Website: http://www.hrw.org

Human Rights Watch is one of the most influential U.S. based organizations investigating and seeking to promote human rights around the world. Human Rights Watch conducts regular, systematic investigations of human rights abuses in 70 countries worldwide. HRW defends freedom of expression, due process, equal protection of the law. It also documents and denounces human torture, murders, disappearances, arbitrary imprisonment, exiles, censorships and other human rights violations.

Students perform legal research which includes, obtaining scholarly law review articles, and interpretations of International conventions.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student reports, "It was a tremendous learning experience for me because I was able to work with people from around the world, focusing on human rights violations taking place in Japan."



LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS-NY
THE ASYLUM PROGRAM
333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor
New York, NY 1001-5004
Telephone: (212) 845-5200
Fax: (212) 845-5299
Website: http://www.lchr.org
Contact: Eleanor Acer

The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights is an independent, U.S. based, non governmental organization. The Lawyers Committee has worked to protect and promote fundamental human rights as established in the International Bill of rights. The Asylum Program in particular, is committed to the use of volunteers as a resource in providing legal assistance to applicants for political asylum.

Students who wish to work on the Human Rights side are selected on the basis of their language abilities and other knowledge and experience related to particular areas of the world to work with staff members responsible for those areas.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student performed legal writing and research and was able to use his legal education in conjunction with his International interests.

Spring 2001 student researched and wrote a paper on the Working Group for Arbitrary Detention in preparation for the Lawyer's Committee's submissions to the Working Group on U.S. Asylum Practices.



LAWYERS COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
WITNESS
333 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 845-5200
Fax: (212) 845-5299
Website: http://www.witness.org
Contact: Ronit Avni

Witness is an International human rights organization co-founded by the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights. Witness trains a variety of local human rights defenders from 47 countries in the fundamentals of video advocacy. Video advocacy has proven to be a powerful way to expose injustices and uphold fundamental rights.

Students' responsibilities include researching, producing and directing Rights Alert features for Witness's website, logging and transcribing videotapes from partner human rights organizations, assisting with administrative work and many other duties.



NEW YORK STATE UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM
OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION
THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE
JUDGE FOR JUSTICE INITIATIVES

25 Beaver Street, 11th Floor
Telephone: (212) 428-2540
Fax: (212) 428-2545
Website: http://www.courts.state.ny.us

This Office tries to find ways to improve and increase access to the legal system for all citizens within both private and public organizations. This Internship is an ideal opportunity for a law student interested in public policy and public agency administration.

Students work with the Honorable Juanita Bing-Newton and her staff of three attorneys and administrative support. Students will have input projects that may have significant impact on the court system. Such projects include several statewide initiatives that provide Outreach programs that educate the public about the court system and its role in society; Pro Bono programs that encourage voluntary participation and improve access for low income people; Programs that help self-represented litigants navigate the legal system; Partnerships with legal services organizations and Bar associations to establish methods that optimize the delivery of legal services.



EQUALITY NOW
250 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10107
Telephone: (212) 586-0906
Fax: (212) 586-1611
E-mail: equalitynow@igc.apc.org
Website: http://www.equalitynow.org

Equality Now is an International human rights group working for the protection and promotion of women's rights. Equality Now is adapting research, organizing and action techniques for the mainstream International human rights community to address issues such as domestic violence, trafficking in women and reproductive rights.

Students do research on human rights practices affecting girls and women in countries that will be examined by the UN Human Rights Committee. Research is done via Internet, library and making
Contacts with NGO's in the countries being examined. Students may also perform research into a variety of human rights violations of women including female genital mutilation, trafficking of women, and reproductive rights. Fluency and/or profiency in French or Spanish is required. Arabic is also helpful.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student states, "I enjoyed my time at Equality Now a great deal. Although I won't be able to go there regularly next semester, I plan to go whenever I get the chance, because it is an important organization in the area of my interest."



SANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES
CENTER FOR BATTERED WOMEN'S LEGAL SERVICES

67 Wall Street, Suite 2411
New York, NY 10005-0318
Telephone: (212) 349-5960
Fax: (212) 566-0344
E-mail: dorchen@sffny.org

The Center provides battered women with legal representation in family, matrimonial, immigration, and criminal matters. Additionally, the Center assists in the development of public policy initiatives, legislation, training of police, district attorneys, the judiciary and members of the private bar in issues particular to protecting battered women's rights.

Students conduct legal research, writing and client intake. Students also prepare affidavits for their clients. Fluency in Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Hindu are helpful.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1999 student researched and drafted (along w/her partner) an appellate brief for a client they worked with last semester as part of the Prisoner and families clinic.

Spring 1999 student reports, "Assignments were emotionally fulfilling and supervision was clear and readily available. I started with trepidation and ended with a feeling of satisfaction, no doubt."



NOW LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND (NOW LDEF)
Washington, DC
119 Constitution Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20002
Telephone: (202) 326-0040
Fax: (202) 546-8605

New York, NY
395 Hudson Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY, 10014-3669
Telephone: (212) 925-6635
Fax: (212)226-1066
Website: http://www.nowldef.org

NOW LDEF is one of the oldest national legal advocacy organizations dedicated to women's rights. NOW LDEF is a leader in defining the issues and bringing them to public attention through their legal, policy, educational and communication strategies. Major programs focus on violence against women, economic empowerment and women's poverty, reproductive rights, judicial education, childcare and sexual harassment/discrimination in schools and in the workplace.

NOW Legal Defense students perform such duties as researching and drafting legal memoranda and briefs, preparing Congressional testimony, drafting model legislation, screening potential cases for NOW Legal Defense involvement, helping provide technical assistance to advocates and attorneys working with immigrant women, and drafting informational pamphlets on legal topics. Students not only have the chance to witness first-hand the exciting complex legislative process, but are also given enough responsibility to make their participation meaningful and rewarding.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1996 student reports, "I learned a lot through my experience at NOW. I think it is a very worthwhile program. The assignments were clear and the supervision was excellent."

Spring 1998 student performed legal research and writing. Student states, "Staff (legal and support) were friendly and helpful. Legal staff accessible when I had questions on assignments. Good assignments."



CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE LAW AND POLICY (CRLP)
120 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: (917) 637-3600
Fax: (917) 637-3666
Website: http://www.crlp.org

The Center for Reproductive Law and Policy is an independent, non-profit legal organization dedicated to promoting women's health and rights. CRLP's domestic and International programs engage in litigation, research, policy analysis, and public education seeking to achieve women's equality in society and ensure that all women have access to appropriate and freely chosen reproductive health services.

Students interested in working at CRLP should have a strong interest in gender/women's issues and reproductive rights. Students conduct legal research and writing. Profiency or fluency in Spanish, French, or Russian is helpful.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1996 student reports, "I only researched FGM laws at the center. I did have a chance to meet a client. I did most of my work at the Columbia library. Supervision was good. After working at the center I have a greater understanding of International research."



STEPS TO END FAMILY VIOLENCE
104 East 107th Street
New York, NY 10029
Telephone: (212) 410-4200
Fax: (212) 410-4345
Contact Person: Sister Mary Nerney

STEPS works with battered women, focusing on incarcerated women who have been charged with injuring or killing their batterers. STEPS is currently working on a project regarding clemency and a project regarding parole preparation for incarcerated battered women. STEPS also addresses policy and legislative issues on domestic violence.

Students attend periodic meetings, conduct research and networking, and revise needed changes in policy or legislation.



VICTIM SERVICES
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW PROJECT

2 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 577-7700
Fax: (212) 385-0331
Website: http://www.victimservices.org

Victim service is a direct service, research, advocacy organization serving the five boroughs of New York City with a commitment to prevent violence and victimization. Current innovative efforts include working with managed care organizations and corporations around the issue of domestic violence. Victims Service also has information, research, and materials on Domestic Violence.

The Domestic Violence Law Project of Victim Services, provides free legal services to victims of domestic violence who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. The Project also advocates for policy and legislative changes on behalf of domestic violence survivors.



THE INNOCENCE PROJECT
55 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: (212) 790-0375
Fax:(212) 790-0256
Contact Person: Jane Siegel Greene
E-mail: jsiegelgreene@yahoo.com

The Innocence Project is a project of the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. The Project uses post conviction DNA testing to exonerate people who have been wrongfully convicted. Since its inception, the Project has been instrumental in leading to the exoneration of 33 wrongfully convicted inmates using DNA technology. The Innocence Project currently represents over 200 prisoners in almost every U.S. Jurisdiction.

Students read briefs, trial transcripts and laboratory reports, as well as speak to the prisoners and their former attorneys to determine the viability of each case. Students' responsibilities also include evaluating hundreds of requests for assistance that are received each week. There are also opportunities for students to perform legal research and draft memoranda on a variety of issues.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2001 student reports, "The Innocence Project is a wonderful place to work. I did various legal research and I handled several client matters. I also evaluated potential clients. I had worked at the Innocence project before, so it was easy to "step in"."



LEGAL CENTER FOR DEFENSE OF LIFE
210 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: (212) 685-1360
Fax: (212) 889-4470
Contact Person: Christopher Slattery
E-mail: slatterny@aol.com

The Legal Center for Defense of Life uses education advocacy and litigation to oppose policies involving abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, etc, and defends First Amendment rights of individuals and groups to hold and express pro-life views. The Center also provides legal assistance to mothers and babies in areas such as social services, benefits, child support, family law, etc.

The Center provides pro bono legal counsel and representation to those involved in litigation resulting from their peaceful defense of human life; defends the free speech rights of sidewalk counselors; helps pregnant women who are being coerced into abortion; and defends the rights of the elderly and infirm.

Student Evaluations

One Spring 1998 student reports, "Assignment was interesting. On a second issue, the attorney seemed to be simply confirming that his analysis of the law was accurate, and this phase allowed me to really analyze the law to make sure everything was okay. It was quite challenging."

Spring 2001 student states, "Refreshing to work with such a committed organization willing to represent unpopular issues--the model of the lawyer's ethical pro bono responsibility."



CENTER FOR DISABILITY ADVOCACY RIGHTS
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: (212) 979-0505
Fax: (212) 979-8778
E-mail: hn7665@handsnet.org

The Center for Disability Advocacy Rights is a nonprofit law office representing and advising poor individuals with disabilities and the elderly in obtaining and retaining public benefits (SSI, Medicaid, Food Stamps, public assistance). The Staff at the Center advise and represent clients in state and federal administrative and judicial proceedings and will participate in existing and future class action litigation.



LEGAL SERVICES FOR NEW YORK CITY (LSNY)
LEGAL SUPPORT UNIT
350 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: (212) 431-7200
Fax: (212) 966-9571
Website: http://www.legalsupport.org

The Legal Support Unit is the back-up and support center of Legal Services for New York City. The Unit completes special projects and provides training and technical assistance in poverty law throughout New York City.

The Legal Support unit has on its permanent staff coordinating attorneys who are experts in LSNY's major program areas: HIV, Housing, Welfare, Family, and SSI/SSD. These attorneys are available by telephone to case handlers and other advocates in the field; they lead roundtable discussions and task force meetings; and they present training programs throughout the year on topics essential to representing poor people.

Students write legal memoranda on poverty law issues that have significant impact on low-income people in NYC.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1998 student states, "The quality and clarity of assignments were good. Supervision and work was outstanding. The Pro bono assignment fulfilled my expectations and I learned a lot about the practice side of law."

Spring 1999 student describes LAC, "This is office is extremely busy but very friendly and easy to work with."

Fall 2000 student reports, "The people at the office were very appreciative and helpful. It was a good group of people."



LEGAL ACTION CENTER
153 Waverly Place, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10014
Telephone: (212) 243-1313
Fax: (212) 675-0286
Website: http://www.lac.org

The Legal Action Center is a non profit organization whose mission is to fight discrimination against people with histories of addiction, AIDS, or criminal records and to advocate for sound public policies in these areas.

The Legal Action Center conducts federal and state court litigation to combat discrimination based upon a person's criminal record or history of drug and alcohol abuse. In addition, the Center has challenged the use of lie detectors and drug-screening urine tests by employers, unjust criminal and sentencing practices, and improper procedures used to store and disseminate criminal record information.

Students perform legal research and writing as well as case preparation.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1994 student reports, "I felt my work was both necessary and useful. My supervisor was a great guy to work with. I saw how a firm can and does take over Pro Bono work."



INTERFAITH COMMUNITY CENTER (ICS)
308 West 46th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: (212) 399-0899
Fax: (212) 265-2238
Contact Person: Virgil Wiebe
E-mail: virgilwiebe@msn.com

Interfaith Community Services (ICS) provides immigration services to asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants. ICS advocates on behalf of its clients not only through direct representation, but also through coordination with other service providers to monitor and critique practices by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Student responsibilities include the following: maintaining a library of supporting documents to be attached to applications; meeting with clients to review their asylum applications and prepare the applications for submission to INS; research and writing on asylum law questions; applications for other forms of immigration relief, including visa petitions, adjustments of status, naturalization and tracking the status of cases located outside of the New York area. Direct representation by students of asylum seekers before INS asylum officers might also be arranged.



LATINO WORKERS CENTER
P.O. Box 20329
New York, NY 10009
Telephone: (212) 473-3936
Fax: (212) 473-6103
Contact Person: Monica Santana
E-mail: centrolatino@hotmail.com

The Latino Workers Center is an independent organization dedicated to supporting workers' organizing efforts to demand respect for their labor rights. Members of the Center come from many different Latin American and Caribbean Countries and work in different industries: restaurants, garment factories, construction, cleaning companies and home care agencies.

Students assist in developing legal strategy to vindicate workers labors right. Students also handle intake and prosecution of individual worker cases, preparation of demand letters and negotiation with employers.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1995 student reports, "It was a great placement. My supervisor was very kind. She was very resourceful, helpful and flexible. the staff was great. they were very committed to empowering Latinos. They were social activists. I loved being surrounded by them."

Spring 1997 student enjoyed the placement at the Latino Workers Center. Student states, "Organization very grass roots - genuinely helped underprivileged people. Location was only difficulty (East third street)."



HARLEM LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
55 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027
Telephone: (212) 348-7449
Fax: (212) 348-4093

Harlem Legal Services is dedicated to providing quality civil legal representation and supportive services to residents living at or below the poverty level who would not otherwise have the right to full and fair access to the judicial system.

Affiliated with the Legal Services for New York, HLS provides legal assistance and advocacy in housing, government benefits, social security, domestic violence, immigration services, HIV/AIDS services and Family Law Matters.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1994 student states, "I enjoyed this placement because it was in the neighborhood and I finally saw what I'd learned in school could be useful and fun when actually applied to help an individual client."

Spring 1996 student reports, "I recommend this kind of legal aid work with direct service of indigent clients to students fulfilling the requirement. It feels great to help someone who's less able fight the bureaucracy that have denied their rights."



GREATER BOSTON LEGAL SERVICES (GBLS)
197 Friend Street
Boston, MA 02114
Telephone: (617) 371-1234
Fax: (617) 371-1222
Website: http://www.neighborhoodlaw.org/greater_boston_legal_services.htm

GBLS is committed to providing aggressive high quality civil legal services to as many poor people as possible. Clients at GBLS most often are women and children who need protection from abuse; families and elderly who face eviction from their homes; the homeless who have been denied temporary or permanent shelter; and single parents who have been inappropriately refused welfare, food stamps, or medical benefits.



LEGAL AID SOCIETY
FEDERAL DEFENDERS DIVISION

52 Duane Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10007-1207
Telephone: (212) 417-8710
Fax: (212) 571-0392
Website: http://www.legal-aid.org

The Federal Defenders Office of the Legal Aid Society of New York is a non-profit organization that provides legal representation for indigent defendants in the District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and in the United States Court if Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The Federal Defenders Division represents persons charged with federal crimes who are unable to afford retained counsel at both trial and appellate levels. Cases handled by the Federal Defenders Division run the entire spectrum of federal crimes, including narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, immigration crimes, and frauds of all varieties, including securities fraud, tax fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1995 student reports, "Great experience, lots of on job education. Assignments reasonably spaced and well explained. Supervisor a Columbia grad with a real interest in supporting students."



EDUCATION LAW CENTER
155 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Telephone: (973) 624-1815
Fax: (973) 624-7339
Contact Person: Diavid Sciarra
E-mail: edulawctr@aol.com
Website: http://www.edlawcenter.org

The Education Law Center (ELC) specializes in the reform of the public elementary and secondary school systems in New Jersey. The ELC provides free legal assistance to parents, students, and concerned individuals who encounter systematic problems in public school education.

The ELC maintains community education, disseminates education-related publications, provides legal counseling services, monitors the impact of state and local education, and initiates litigation in court.

Students responsibilities include working on litigation with attorneys, updating ELC's publications, as well as taking calls from concerned parents.



CITY-WIDE TASK FORCE ON HOUSING COURT (CWTFHC)
29 John Street, Suite 501
Telephone: (212) 962-4266
Fax: (212) 962-4799
E-mail: cwtfhc@mindspring.com
Website: http://www.cwtfhc.org

The City Wide Task Force on Housing Court is a non-profit organization which provides information and referrals to pro se litigants. The Task Force also organize and advocate for systematic improvements in housing. The mission of City-Wide is to bring about change and advocate for the true administration of justice for all in NYC Housing Court. CWTFHC also conducts research, issues reports and makes recommendations on the procedures and practices in Housing Court designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Court's operations and assure that litigants have meaningful access to the court for dispute resolution.



NGO COALITION FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
c/o WFM/IGP, 777 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 687-2176
Fax: (212) 599-1332
E-mail: cicc@igc.org
Website: http://www.iccnow.org

The mission of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Coalition for an International Criminal Court is to advocate the creation of an effective and just International Criminal Court. The Coalition brings together a network of NGOs and International law experts to develop strategies on substantive legal and political issues relating to the Rome Statute. A key goal is to foster awareness and support among a wide range of civil society organizations: human rights, International law, judicial, humanitarian, religious, peace and others.

Students' responsibilities include legal writing and research as well as helping keep track of which nations have signed the ICC Treaty.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1997 student reports that the Coalition is highly suitable for people from the human rights Internship program and for those with interest in International criminal law and war crimes in general.

Spring 1998 student was very pleased with her work at the NGO Coalition for an International Criminal Court. Student reported that she was able to observe the working of the UN and learn legal and technical aspects of treaty drafting. Student also observed and assisted strategic minds around NGO's.



HAITIAN CATHOLIC CENTER LEGAL PROJECT
110 N.E. 62nd Street
Miami, Florida 33138
Telephone: (305) 751-6289
Fax: (305) 756-6435
Contact Person: Randy McGorty

The Haitian Catholic Center Legal Project provides vital service to the Haitian refugee community in Miami's Little Haiti and throughout South Florida. The Center's Legal Project offers a full range of immigration services, including but not limited to the following: preparation of work authorization requests, family reunification petitions, adjustments of status and citizenship applications; representation before the asylum office; and advocacy on behalf of aliens.

Students assist staff attorneys, under their direct legal assistance, while immersing themselves in the diverse Haitian culture.



MIGRANT FARMWORKER JUSTICE PROJECT
P.O. Box 2110
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Telephone: (561) 996-5266
Fax: (561) 992-5040
Contact Person: Greg Schell
E-mail: hn2028@handsnet.org
Website: http://www.floridalegal.org

The Migrant Farmworker Project (MFJP) is a public interest firm engaged in the representation of migrant and seasonal farmworkers through Florida. The MFJP's practice is limited to class actions and other litigation having broad impact on the interests of Florida farmworkers.

Most of the program's litigation is conducted in the federal courts, with over half of the firm's litigation docket consisting of class action suits. Primary areas of practice concern employment law, occupational safety and health (including pesticide), housing and community development and civil rights.

Students during the academic year help with pending cases, and also with outreach. Students are sought for year round or for summer assistance. Spanish and/or Creole speakers preferred. Students also must show a commitment to public interest law.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student states, "I learned a great deal about farmworker law and litigation. I also had the opportunity to go out and do outreach and speak with clients. I enjoyed working with the people in the office very much and felt that my work was appreciated."



NEW YORK STATE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE ON WOMEN IN COURTS
Office of Court Administration
25 Beaver Street, Room 878
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (212) 428-2794
Fax: (212) 428-2793
Contact Person: Jill Laurie Goodman
E-mail: jgoodman@courts.state.ny.us

The New York State Judicial Committee on Women in Courts serves as an advocate for women litigants, attorneys, and court employees. Composed of judges, court officials, bar association representatives and practicing attorneys, the Committee works with court administrators and outside institutions to assure equal justice, equal treatment and equal opportunity for all, regardless of gender.

Student Evaluation

Spring 2000 student reports, "Assignment was straightforward. I learned a great deal. This Internship was most informative."



NASSAU COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
262 Old Country Road
Mineola, NY 11501
Telephone: (516) 571-3800
Fax: (516) 571-5065
Contact Person: Bruce Ruinsky
Website: http://www.nassauda.org

The Nassau County District Attorney's Office is charged with the prosecution of criminal suspects in cases ranging from misdemeanors to homicide. The Office represents people of the locale in which it is situated in criminal cases. The Office also handles criminal appeals.

Students are assigned to an assistant district attorney in one of several bureaus of the office and aids the assistant district attorney in whatever activity he or she is then engaged. Thus, over the course of the entire program, each student will participate in three different bureaus of the office. These may include the misdemeanor bureau, felony screening bureau, felony trial bureau, major offense bureau, rackets bureau, criminal frauds bureau, special investigations bureau, and appeals bureau.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student reports, "I got a sense of different areas of criminal law. Attorneys more interested in having me learn than do work. I sat in on interviews with victims and witnesses. Given substantive assignments. Wrote several motions. Great experience!"



INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: (202) 955-1300
Fax: (202) 955-1329
E-mail: general@ij.org
Website: http://www.ij.org

The Institute for Justice is a nationally recognized, libertarian/conservative public interest law center. The Institute litigates a wide range of constitutional issues, including economic and educational liberty, private property rights, and the First Amendment. Some of the institute's current cases include challenges to state practices interfering with interracial adoption, local ordinances permitting city officials to inspect rented apartments without a tenant's permission, licensing and zoning laws that prevent entrepreneurs from making an honest living, and federal agency actions that restrict free speech.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1997 student states, "The subject matter dealt with by the Institute is extremely interesting for anyone concerned with the economic integration of the small-scale entrepreneur into society. This placement has a very human touch."

Spring 2000 student felt that the work assigned to him by the Institute was well matched to his interest.



PRISONER'S LEGAL SERVICES OF NEW YORK
105 Chambers Street
New York, NY, 10007-1076
Telephone: 212-513-7373
Fax: 212-571-6874

The Prisoner's Legal Services (PLS) is a non-profit organization which provides civil legal services to indigent inmates in New York State prisons where no other counsel is available, through high quality, effective legal representation and assistance to help prisoners secure their civil and human rights. PLS provides services to incarcerated persons in New York State prisons. PLS also handle cases involving discipline matters, medical care, guard brutality, conditions of confinement, correspondence, religious freedom and jail time credit, among others. We also believe in the importance of allowing individuals to have substantial independence and encourage individual initiative and innovation.

Students with a very limited amount of available time tend to be assigned a discrete case or research project that has a well defined time frame. With additional time availability, a wider range of projects that involve fact gathering at prisons and pretrial and trial work have been available. Students have also conducted depositions.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1996 student reports, "This was a wonderful assignment and I would encourage other students to work at PLS. I did not have a lot of supervision but what I did have was of excellent quality. A very rewarding experience."



PRIVACY & AMERICAN BUSINESS
CENTER FOR SOCIAL & LEGAL RESEARCH

Hackensack, NJ, 07601
Telephone: (201) 996-1154
Fax: (201) 996-1883
Website: http://www.privacyexchange.org

Privacy and American Business is an award winning national newsletter published 6-8 times yearly. The P&AB report speaks to business on issues regarding federal and state legislative, regulatory, and executive activities which affect the collection and use of personal consumer and employee information in those major industries whose products and services rely on uses of such information.

Students' work involves researching statutory, case-law, regulatory, and policy-choice materials across the complete range of employee-employer privacy issues. Issues covered include acceptable information collection for employee selection (psychological testing, medical exams, background checks, employment reports, etc.), monitoring of work performance, health information uses, relevance of off-the-job activities, employees access to personnel records, camera monitoring at workplaces, locker and desk searches at workplace, and many others.

Students will have the opportunity to work with the Center's founder, Professor Alan F. Westin of Columbia University, considered the nation's leading authority on informational privacy, and Robert R. Belair, a Washington-based attorney who is one of the nation's top experts on privacy and freedom of information law and a player in congressional and state legislative matters.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1998 student states, "My placement with the Center for Social and Legal Research was a positive and productive experience. My assignment was clearly communicated, I had adequate guidance and the opportunity for feedback was abundant."



PUBLIC INTEREST LAW INITIATIVE (PILI)
PRO BONO NET, Inc.
151 West 30th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 760-2554
Fax: (212) 760-2557
E-mail: mhertz@probono.net
Website: http://www.probono.net

Pro Bono Net uses the web to increase the amount and quality of legal services provided to low-income individuals and communities, and to create virtual legal communities that bridge all public interest law sectors. The organization works closely with New York, Minnesota and San Francisco legal communities to build online resources for public interest lawyers across a variety of disciplines. The organization also works in close partnership with existing pro bono organizations, legal aid programs and other public interest law centers across the country.



PUERTO RICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND (PRLDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: (212) 219-3360
Fax: (212) 431-4276
Contact Person: Evette Soto-Maldonado
Website: http://guthrie.hunter.cuny.edu/centro/archives/aids/prldef.html

PRLDEF's work is centered around the belief that they must educate and involve the community as partners in the litigation and advocacy work they do. The new emphasis is on developing strong community lawyering models and new and innovative frameworks from which to develop litigation. This organization has held a series of community briefings with the Latino community leaders and housing activists, with plans to reach out to the city's Jewish leadership.

Student interns at PRLDEF law interns will be exposed to federal civil litigation on social justice issues impacting Latino communities in the Northeast United States. Students will provide legal research and writing, assist in case preparation and discovery, draft pleadings, and assist PRLDEF staff attorneys in pending class action and civil rights matters, including, education, language rights, environmental justice, housing discrimination, and voting rights cases.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1997 student reports, "Professionally rewarding and ethically exciting. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with them."



SAKHI FOR SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN
P.O. Box 20208
New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (212) 695-5447
Fax: (212) 564-8745

Sakhi operates as a resource, support, and organizing center for South Asian women who are survivors of domestic violence. Community education workshops concerning domestic violence and women's rights and roles within South Asian communities are conducted. Sakhi holds free monthly legal, advocacy, and immigration clinics. Literacy classes for South Asian women are also offered.

Student Evaluation

Spring 1997 student conducted client
Contact, legal writing and research. Student describes her experience at Sakhi for South Asian Women, "A very positive experience as I learned about an area of law about which I previously knew nothing. I also gained a sense of self-satisfaction by helping an abused woman. My supervising attorney was very enthusiastic and helpful."



SAFE HORIZON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW PROJECT

346 Broadway
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: (212) 577-3220
Fax: (212) 577-3231
Contact Person: Hema Sarangapani
E-mail: hsaranga@safehorizon.org
Website: http://www.safehorizon.org

Safe Horizon is the largest provider of assistance to domestic violence victims in New York City. As part of its mission, the Domestic Violence Law Project provides free legal service to victims of domestic violence who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Services are offered in family offense, custody and visitation, divorce, child support, immigration and criminal cases. Law Project staff provide information, advice and referrals, offer community education, and develop training for advocates, pro bono lawyers, counselors and victims. The Project also advocates for policy and legislative changes on behalf of domestic violence survivors.

Students will work with attorneys litigating family offense, custody, divorce and immigration cases; provide outreach and advocacy to help arrange shelter, social services and legal assistance for individuals leaving abusive relationships; provide legal information to domestic violence survivors and their children; research family law topics including family offense, custody and visitation. Students will gain experience in family court and help domestic violence victims to live safer lives.



SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
83 Poplar Street, NW
Atlanta, GA, 30303-2122
Telephone: (404) 688-1202
Fax: (404) 688-9440
E-mail: rights@schr.org
Website: http://www.schr.org

The Southern Center for Human Rights is a public interest legal project, representing people facing the death penalty and prisoners challenging unconstitutional conditions of confinement. The prison and jail conditions litigated by the Center's attorneys have ranged from challenges to unconstitutional conditions and policies in small local jails to cases involving entire state prison systems. The Center represents people at trial, on appeal, and in post-conviction proceedings.

Students investigate cases; research and write about legal issues; interview clients and witnesses; conduct jail inspections; and assist in the Center's public education work.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2001 student performed research on the death penalty. Student reports, "Great work and great people. Everyone should work here."

Spring 1999 student states, "I had limited exposure since I volunteered during Spring break, but my short time there provided great inspiration on what lawyers can do in such an under represented field of law."



SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER (SPLC)
1360 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 1010
Atlanta, GA 30309-3214
Telephone: (404) 873-3421
Fax: (404) 873-3861
Website: http://www.splcenter.org

The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nonprofit organization which handles cases dealing with hate violence, organized racist groups, employment discrimination, voting rights, education, etc.

Its programs include the Intelligence Project, Teaching Tolerance and Tolerance.org .

Students assist attorneys with legal research and writing, field investigations, discovery and trial preparations.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1995 student states, "This was an interesting and worthwhile assignment and I enjoyed working on it. My supervisor gave me clear guidance as what I was to research and as to what problems I was to solve or attempt to find the answer to."

Spring 1996 student reports "I like doing research, so this assignment was perfect, especially since it touched interesting constitutional issues."



LIBEL DEFENSE RESOURCE CENTER (LDRC)
404 Park Avenue South, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (212) 889-2306
Fax: (212) 689-3315
Contact Person: Eric Robinson
E-mail: erobinson#@ldrc.com
Website: http://www.ldrc.com

Libel Defense Resource Center (LDRC) is a non-profit, membership organization specializing in media and First Amendment law. LDRC does not itself engage in litigation, but serves as resource for its members, who include most major publishers, newspapers and television networks, as well as the law firms that defend the media.

Student assignments include researching and drafting articles for the monthly LDRC LibelLetter, a newsletter tracking new legal developments; collecting and helping analyze data for empirical studies published quarterly in the LDRC Bulletin; summarizing briefs and other litigation materials from recent LDRC cases; and assisting in responding to inquiries from lawyers.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1998 student reports, "Both my supervisor and the director of the LDRC were very friendly and helpful on projects and libel law. I have long been interested in this area and it was very interesting to work at the center.



TRAVELER'S AID IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
VICTIM SERVICES

74-09 38TH Avenue, Office 409
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Telephone: (718) 899-1233
Fax: Not Provided

The Victim Services Unit of the traveler's Aid Immigration Legal Services provides a spectrum of legal services for mostly low to moderate income clients and their families. Traveler's is one of only 7 citywide programs which provide free court representation. It is located in Jackson Heights, Queens, which is diverse community of many ethnic groups.

Students' responsibilities include screening for eligible clients: asylum seekers, and those in deportation or exclusion proceedings; assist lawyers with legal and other research related to country conditions for political asylum cases, deportation issues, and appeals; and to assist with case preparation, brief writing, client interviewing. Students also work on legal counseling and services on family visa petitions, special waivers, petitions for battered women and children, naturalization. Advocacy for public entitlements, women's issues.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1999 student reports, "Very rewarding. The attorney was great to work with- just the right amount of supervision and she was also very trusting. Most importantly, I met an incredible family and felt I played a role in their grant for political asylum."

Spring 2000 student states, "My supervisor is very friendly and helpful and gave me clear direction."



THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY
BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE

166 Montague Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Telephone: (718) 722-3100
Fax: (718) 722-3093
Website: http://www.legal-aid.org

The Legal Aid Society provides assistance to indigent clients in the borough of Brooklyn on a full range of civil legal issues. Most of their work is done in the areas of housing, public benefits, health care and access to health care, and family law.

Students are exposed to state and federal court litigation at the administrative, trial and appellate levels. The office is currently involved in a variety of affirmative litigation. Students will assist staff in case handling responsibilities, including client interviews, legal research and writing, settlement negotiations, agency and trial preparation.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1995 student enjoyed the placement. He would have liked more training and possibly more supervision. Student reported that
Contact with clients was intense. He recommends that students enter this placement with prior experience.



LEGAL AID SOCIETY
IMMIGRATION LAW UNIT

90 Church Street
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 577-3300
Fax: (212) 577-7999
Contact Person: Janet Sabel
E-mail: jsabel@legal-aid.org
Website: http://www.legal-aid.org

The Immigration Law Unit offers legal services to low income residents of all five boroughs of New York City and surrounding counties within the New York District of the Immigration and Naturalization Service on a wide range of immigration matters, including but not limited to, obtaining legal status, asylum, naturalization and waivers of deportation and cancellation of removal.

The Unit consists of one supervising attorney, five staff attorneys and two paralegals. The Unit represents individuals before Immigration Appeals, the federal courts and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Experience in and/or commitment to immigration issues and advocacy on behalf of low-income people desired. Bi- or multilingual ability helpful.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1996 student reports, "My placement was a meaningful one, because I learned some practical aspects of legal practice. I had client
Contact and my work was related to individuals' legal problems. The work made me fell more confident about my ability."

Fall 1997 student states: "My placement was a continuation of my trial placement. It was a great experience."

Spring 200 student states, "The immigration unit is a great unit to work with. They gave me guidance yet they were flexible with projects. My supervisors were very available to me to check in with and receive direction."



LEGAL AID SOCIETY
BROOKLYN OFFICE FOR THE AGING

111 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Telephone: (718) 645-3111
Fax: (718) 645-4151
Contact Person: Diane Lutwak
Website: http://www.legal-aid.org

The Brooklyn Office for the Aging of the Legal Aid Society, Civil Division, a community-based legal services office devoted to the diverse needs of the elderly poor. The office is a recognized leader in the provision of legal assistance to indigent senior citizens. This office serves clients aged 60 and over, and works on numerous poverty issues including landlord/tenant and benefits. It is involved in state and federal impact litigation.

Students will be exposed to state and federal court litigation at the administrative, trial and appellate levels. Students will also assist staff in case handling responsibilities, including client interviews, legal research and writing, settlement negotiations, agency advocacy and trial preparation.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student states, "Student states: "I have a much greater appreciation for Legal aid type organizations and I am reminded of the large groups of people who can't afford to pay a lawyer to receive help."

Spring 1999 student reports, "It was enjoyable and worthwhile. I gained some experience in that field of law. I understand better the practical realities of working for legal aid. Supervision and staff attorneys were available. The assignments were clear."



WASHINGTON LAWYERS' COMMITTEE
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND URBAN AFFAIRS

11 Dupont Circle, NW Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 319-1000
Fax: (202) 319-2940
Website: http://www.lawyerscomm.org

The Washington Lawyer's Committee is a non-profit organization which provides pro bono legal representation, in conjunction with the private bar, to victims of employment discrimination in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The Lawyer's Committee both investigates and litigates a wide variety of discrimination complaints, including those based on race, sex, (including pregnancy and sexual harassment), disability, national origin, religion, and sexual orientation.

Students receive training in both substantive and procedural employment discrimination law. The investigations they conduct include interviewing claimants and witnesses, reviewing documents, and providing a written legal analysis for each claim. The position also requires research of a variety of legal issues related to discrimination law. All students are supervised by attorneys experienced in civil rights litigation.



NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES
(FORMERLY THE WOMEN'S LEGAL DEFENSE FUND)

1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Telephone: (202) 986-2600
Fax: (202) 986-2539
Website: http://www.charitablechoices.org/WLDF/

The National Partnership for Women and Families is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that uses public education and advocacy to promote fairness in the workplace, quality health care, and policies that help women and men meet the demands of both work and family.

Law Clerk for Work and Family Program: Student will assist the National Partnership's advocacy efforts in the areas of equal employment opportunities, family friendly workplace policy, expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and employment barriers affecting low-income women. Activities include legal research and writing in support of our monitoring of EEO and FMLA enforcement, advocacy of broader laws and legal interpretations, amicus litigation program, coalition advocacy, and public education about laws and proposals in this area.

Law Clerk for Workplace Fairness Program: Student will assist the National Partnership's advocacy efforts in the areas of equal employment opportunities, employment barriers affecting low-income women, and the civil rights impact of welfare reform. Activities include legal research and writing in support of our monitoring of EEO enforcement, advocacy of broader laws and legal interpretations, amicus litigation program, coalition advocacy, and public education about laws and proposals in this area.

Law Clerk for Health Care Program: Student will assist with the National Partnership's advocacy efforts to improve women's access to affordable, quality health care. Activities include researching and analyzing women's health issues, such as managed care and reproductive health, monitoring federal and state legislation, and attending and reporting back to staff about relevant Congressional hearings, briefings, and other meetings.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1996 student reports, "Women's Legal Defense Fund is terrific, great attorneys and significant substance."



AMERICAN INDIAN LAW ALLIANCE
708 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: (212) 598-0100
Fax: (212) 614-0413
Contact Person: Suzanne Jasper
E-mail: AILANYC@abest.com
Website: http://www.americanindianlawall.org

The American Indian Law Alliance is a grass roots organization that takes its lead from the traditional leadership of native nations while being directly accountable to the community that they serve. Their purpose is to help Native Americans have a better understanding of the justice system and to help them acquire the skills necessary to protect their rights.

Students will assist in interviewing Native people who need assistance with the usual problems confronted by marginal communities in an urban environment. In addition, students may help with the implementation and execution of workshops and the design of brochures for the Urban Native community.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student states: "An excellent organization that will take you in and treat you as family. Their work is fascinating and diverse. Their professionalism is unsurpassed."

Spring 1998 student states: "Just fine; work sometimes uneven - but to be expected."



LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN, Inc.
110 Lafayette Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10013
Telephone: (212) 966-6420
Fax: (212) 966-0531
E-mail: gmampel@lawyersforchildren.org

Lawyers For Children acts as legal counsel to children in the foster care system, as well as those who are the subject of abuse or neglect petitions, termination of parental rights, and custody, visitation and foster care proceedings.

Students will have the opportunity to perform legal research and writing, motion practice, observing court proceedings, telephone advocacy, working with LFC's staff social workers, and client
Contact.



YOUTH LAW CENTER
1345 G Street, NW, Suite 770
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: (202) 637-0377
Fax: (202) 347-0493
Contact Person: Marc Shindler
E-mail: mschindler.ylc@erols.com
Website: http://www.childprotect.org

The Youth Law Center is a non-profit public interest law firm which works throughout the country to reform systems for children in out-of-home placement, primarily child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The Center provides training and technical assistance to public officials and agency administrators, legislative and administrative advocacy at the federal and state levels, and conducts law reform litigation related to the confinement for children in state custody.

Students will be working in matters related to discovery, investigation, legal research and writing, and trial preparation for a federal class-action cases.



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHILD ADVOCATES (NACA)
1522 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: (202) 289-0777
Fax: (202) 289-0776
E-mail: naca@childadvocacy.org

The National Association of Child Advocates (NACA) is an association of state and local multi-issue child advocacy agencies that is unique in its mission to unite and strengthen advocates working at the state and community level. NACA establishes links between state and local advocates and national experts, provides a national clearinghouse for information about child advocacy and issues affecting children, and enables members to share ideas, trade information, plan strategies, and effect change.

Students' duties include research on effective health programs for children and changes in federal and state policies affecting children's health. Students may also conduct research in response to requests from member organizations for information on specific topics and may attend meetings and briefings.



MFY LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
299 Broadway, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 417-3700
Fax: (212) 417-3890
E-mail: pearisman@mfy.org
Website: http://www.mfy.org

MFY is one of the first community-based poverty law organizations in the country. The majority of MFY's cases are housing matters, mainly the representation of tenants facing eviction. In addition, MFY serves impoverished New Yorkers through specially funded projects.

The SRO Project provides legal and tenant organizing services to residents of single room occupancy hotels and rooming houses on the East Side of Manhattan. The SSI/SSD Project assists disabled people throughout MFY's service area who seek to obtain ir retain disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. The Mental Health Law Project provides legal services to persons with psychiatric disabilities who are enrolled in designated mental health programs throughout the five boroughs.

Students should expect to do extensive legal research in state and local law, draft memoranda and possibly other legal documents. Students may also attend/represent clients at administrative hearings (under attorney supervision), and assist with various aspects of litigation, such as investigating issues, accumulating facts and evidence and drafting motions.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2001 student reports, "Overall a good, solid pro bono experience. Supervisors were great, given how overburdened they are to begin with."

Another Spring 2001 student represented a client in a termination of a tenancy proceeding. This involved research, writing, client
Contact, and hearing preparation.



NATIONAL WOMEN'S LAW CENTER
11 Dupont Circle, NW Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 588-5180
Fax: (202) 588-5185
E-mail: fthomas@nwlc.org
Website: http://www.nwlc.org

The National Women's Law Center serves as a national resource for those who are committed to advancing the status of women through law. The Center's goal is to affect public and private sector policies and practices to reflect the needs and rights of women. Areas of central concern include education, health and reproductive rights, and economic security.

The Center's work is varied, and entails representation of women's interests in federal courts, before administrative agencies and in Congress, and through participation in coalitions of organizations working on issues affecting women at both the federal level and in the states.

The Center provides students with varied work assignments which may include writing briefs, drafting complaints, writing articles and fact sheets, commenting on proposed federal agency regulations, preparing Congressional testimony, researching legislative history and attending court, executive branch and Congressional proceedings.



FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION FUND
383 Rhode Island Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone: (415) 252-8900
Fax: (415) 252-8991
E-mail: fund@fvpf.org
Website: http://www.fvpf.org

The Family Violence Prevention Fund focuses on domestic violence prevention reform. The mission of the Fund is to stern the epidemic of violence in our homes. Throughout its history, the Fund has developed strategies to address the problem of domestic violence in the justice, public health, child welfare, workplace and communication fields.

Student Evaluations

Spring 2000 student reports, "Working with my supervisor was a pleasure. She had a clear vision of the work needed to be done and managed to inspire as well as teach. We did most of our consultations by phone- she recommended approaches and theories, I did the research."



NATIONAL LAW CENTER ON HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY
1411 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: (202) 638-2535
Fax: (202) 628-2737
Website: http://www.nlchp.org

The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to serving as the legal arm of the nationwide effort to alleviate, prevent and end homelessness in America. To this end, NLCHP's strategic approach includes: pursuing impact litigation, filing amicus briefs, monitoring legal developments, and federal legislative advocacy.

NLCHP's areas of legal concentration include: the criminalization of homelessness, access to housing and exclusionary zoning practices, the education of homeless children and youth, and international human rights.



AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (NY Offices)
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004

The American Civil Liberties Union has special units in the New York and/or Washington DC offices devoted to children's rights, immigrants' rights, reproductive freedom, privacy and technology, lesbian and gay rights, voting rights, art censorship, prisoner's rights, workplace rights and women's rights.



ACLU - LESBIAN AND GAY RIGHTS PROJECT
Telephone: (212) 549-2623
Fax: (212) 549-2650

The Lesbian and Gay Rights Project is a special division of the National ACLU. The goal of the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project is equal treatment and equal dignity for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. That means evenhanded treatment by the government, protection from discrimination in jobs, housing, hotels, restaurants, and other public places, and fair and equal treatment for lesbian and gay couples and families.

The Project brings "impact" lawsuits-cases designed to have a significant effect on the lives of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Project staff also write and promote laws and policies that will help achieve equality and fairness for gay people. Finally, the project educates the public, legislators, policy makers and opinion leaders through books, position papers, articles, lectures, and media campaigns.

Student Evaluations

Spring 1997 student states: "The two assignments I had were excellent; they were cutting-edge issues in which I had a genuine interest. My supervisor is a great person to work for."



ACLU - REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM PROJECT
New York Office

Telephone: (212) 549-2643
Fax: (212) 549-2652

For over twenty years, ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project has fought to expand governmental assaults. In collaboration with ACLU's nationwide network of state affiliates, the Project works to ensure that the decision whether or not to have a child is informed, meaningful and protected from governmental interference.

The Project's current docket includes challenges to restrictions on abortion; bans on abortion procedures; waiting period requirements; and laws that mandate parental involvement in minors' abortion decisions. The Project is especially concerned with issues affecting poor women, teens, and women of color.

Student Evaluations

Fall 1995 student states, "I generally enjoyed working with this project very much. My supervisor was enthusiastic and very willing to answer questions. I did have some difficulty working through what was expected. The area I was asked to research is one not yet developed by case law."



ACLU - IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS PROJECT
New York Office

Telephone: (212) 549-2660
Fax: (212) 549-2654
E-mail: ImmRights@aclu.org
Website: http://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrant/hmir.html
Contact: Judy Rabinovitz

The Immigrants' Rights Project of the ACLU was established in 1987 to enforce fundamental rights and civil liberties of immigrants and refugees. The Immigrants' Rights Project conducts the largest litigation program in the country on the behalf of the constitutional rights of immigrants.

Interns will assist with many aspects of the Project's litigation, including major court challenges to Provisions of the 1996 Immigration Act. Interns will also do extensive legal research and writing.

Student Evaluations

Student in the Spring 2001 placement reports about her experience at ACLU: "It was fascinating to be part of something as exciting as a constitutional challenge to what are draconian (and poorly drafted) laws."

Student in the Spring 1998 placement states, "The ACLU Immigrant's Rights Project is an interesting placement. As an student, I was often learning about substantial changes in the relevant law. My supervising attorney was excellent."