Summer La Student Intern - Pueblo Office

Organization Overview: 

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

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

We value representation.

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

Position Summary: 

CLS is seeking a motivated, compassionate and public-interest-driven law student for the Summer Law Student Internship Position in our Pueblo Office. Currently, the Pueblo Office consists of six attorneys, three paralegals, and an office/intake specialist. While the Pueblo Office assists clients with a variety of legal problems, the most prevalent legal issues on attorney caseloads are the following: evictions and landlord/tenant issues, divorce and custody cases, permanent civil protection order proceedings, and public benefits issues involving social security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

In this position, the Law Student Intern will perform a variety of duties to support attorneys and staff in delivering essential civil legal services. The scope of duties will depend on the experience level of the Law Student Intern and the needs of the Pueblo Office attorneys and staff. Any specific areas of interest expressed by the Law Student Intern can be considered when assigning responsibilities and duties.

The Law Student Intern will gain hands-on legal experience across a range of civil legal practice issues, including but not limited to, conducting client interviews and case investigation, performing legal research and drafting memorandums, pleadings, motions, and briefs, observing evidentiary hearings and various court proceedings, participating in mediations, negotiations, and other forms of informal advocacy, and, when authorized under the Law Student Practice Requirements, advocate for clients in court proceedings

Essential Duties: 

• Draft motions, briefs, memorandums, pleadings, letters to clients and opposing parties, and other types of legal documents as needed by staff and attorneys to assist with client representation  

• Perform legal research and assist attorneys and staff prepare for evidentiary hearings 

• Assist attorneys and staff by reviewing collateral documentation involved in the case, organizing evidence, identifying discovery issues, creating exhibits for trial, and assisting with the development of trial binders for important evidentiary proceedings  

• Conduct client interviews with attorneys and assist with case investigation through research and interviews with potential witnesses 

• Observe and, when permitted under the Law Student Practice Requirements, advocate in court hearings, administrative hearings, mediations, negotiations, and other court proceedings 

• Maintain accurate and organized case files and client records in accordance with CLS policies. This may include experience with time keeping policies and practices, as well.  

• Collaborate with attorneys and support staff as part of an interdisciplinary legal team to provide high-quality legal representation to CLS clients – this includes participation in weekly Team meetings to staff cases collaboratively.  

Required Qualifications: 

• Current enrollment in an ABA-accredited law school 

• Strong interest in public interest law and in legal issues affecting low-income individuals 

• Compassion and professionalism when working with clients who are facing legal and life challenges associated with their low-income status 

• Sensitivity to and respect for individuals from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences 

• Able to prioritize and maintain client confidentiality and adhere to ethical obligations 

• Ability to manage time, to prioritize tasks, to work independently with appropriate supervision, and to work as part of a team.  

• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills 

• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with clients, attorneys, and staff
  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Spanish-speaking ability 

• Prior coursework or experience with civil legal issues such as family law, housing law, public benefits, consumer law, or protection orders 

• Experience with client-facing work, including interviews or intake 

• Prior experience working with underserved, low-income, or otherwise vulnerable populations 

• Experience and familiarity with trauma-informed or client-centered advocacy

Time Commitment and Compensation: 

This is a Full-Time position, approximately 37.5 hours per week with the understanding that more hours may occur during periods that involve trials and trial preparation. The Law Student Intern will be compensated with a $7,000 stipend for their valued contribution to the Pueblo Office.

How to Apply:   

Please submit your resume and cover letter via the “Apply for This Job” link for this job opening on our careers page. We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this internship or any others at Colorado Legal Services, please contact Kirsten Hoaby, Denver Volunteer and Pro Bono Manager, at [email protected]