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Public Interest Law Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Harris County

Legal Intern - Spring 2027

Houston, TX · On-site

Responsibilities will vary based on the intern's division assignment, schedule, experience, and the ... Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in criminal defense, public interest law, or ...

Harris County

Legal Intern - Spring 2027

Houston, TX

Responsibilities will vary based on the intern's division assignment, schedule, experience, and the ... Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in criminal defense, public interest law, or ...

The Pennsylvania State University

$91K - $154K/yr

This will include developing and leading the law school's public interest and pro bono programming. The attorney will supervise students who are engaged in providing pro bono legal services to ...

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How much do public interest law intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for public interest law intern in the United States is $17.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a public interest law intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Public Interest Law Intern, you need strong legal research and writing skills, a foundational understanding of constitutional and civil rights law, and enrollment in or completion of a law degree program. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office, is typically expected. Outstanding communication, empathy, and a demonstrated commitment to social justice help interns excel in serving diverse communities. These skills and qualities are essential for effectively supporting advocacy efforts, ensuring accurate legal work, and making a meaningful impact in public interest law.

What types of projects and cases might a public interest law intern typically work on during their internship?

As a Public Interest Law Intern, you can expect to work on a variety of projects, including legal research, drafting memos or briefs, assisting with client intake, and supporting attorneys in preparing for hearings. Interns often help with matters such as civil rights, housing, immigration, or environmental law, depending on the organization's focus. The work environment tends to be collaborative, with interns frequently participating in team meetings and occasionally interacting directly with clients under supervision. This role provides hands-on exposure to the legal process and meaningful opportunities to contribute to cases that have a real impact on the community.

What is the difference between Public Interest Law Intern vs Legal Intern?

AspectPublic Interest Law InternLegal Intern
CredentialsTypically law students or recent graduatesLaw students or recent graduates
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, government agencies, advocacy groupsLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government offices
Employer & IndustryPublic interest, nonprofit, governmentLegal services, corporate, government
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in public serviceLegal career pathways, internships

Public Interest Law Interns focus on social justice, advocacy, and serving underserved communities within nonprofit or government settings. Legal Interns often work in law firms or corporate legal departments, handling more traditional legal tasks. Both roles require law students or recent graduates, but their work environments and career focuses differ significantly.

What is a public interest law intern?

A public interest law intern is a student or recent graduate who works with organizations, government agencies, or legal clinics focused on serving the public good. These interns assist with legal research, drafting documents, client interviews, and advocacy on issues like civil rights, environmental protection, or social justice. The goal is to gain hands-on experience in legal work that benefits underserved or marginalized communities, often under the supervision of experienced attorneys. Public interest law internships can be paid or unpaid and are valuable for those considering a career in nonprofit or governmental legal work.
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Public Interest Law Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Public Interest Law Intern job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $36,603 per year, or $17.6 per hour.

Public Interest Law Students Internship

Community Legal Aid & Affiliate Internships

Worcester, MA • On-site

$15 - $20/hr

Full-time, Part-time, Internship

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

Community Legal Aid (CLA) is the civil legal aid program serving the low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts. Through CLA's effective advocacy in more than 8,000 cases each year, some of the most vulnerable residents of the region obtain safe and stable housing; fight discrimination in the housing and employment arenas; access unemployment, disability and other benefits to stabilize their income; break free from domestic violence and other abuse and exploitation; and get needed services in school. In addition, CLA's wholly-owned subsidiary, the Central West Justice Center (CWJC), specializes in cases involving humanitarian-based immigration relief.

Community Legal Aid and Affiliate accept law students during the academic year (fall and spring semester) but primarily accept interns for our summer internship program. Academic year interns are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week, to be arranged according to their class schedule. Summer interns work full-time (35 hours a week) for 10 weeks and participate in weekly learning sessions that introduce the different types of legal aid work at the organization.

INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Law student interns apply to work in one of Community Legal Aid and Affiliate's substantive practice areas and will assist our attorneys in representing clients. Specific responsibilities vary by unit but may include:

  • Conducting client interviews and advising clients with appropriate supervision
  • Researching and drafting briefs and other legal documents
  • Assisting in preparing pleadings
  • Assisting in trial and/or hearing preparation
  • Attending community meetings, outreach events, and/or court and agency hearings with staff advocates

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Currently enrolled in an ABA-accredited Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Law (LLM) program
  • Demonstrated experience or strong interest in public interest law

COMPENSATION:

We encourage students selected for internships with CLA to secure funding through law school public interest scholarships, work-study options, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation internship stipends, or other funding sources. We pay our summer interns if they cannot receive summer stipends/funding from their law schools. Part-time internship opportunities are unpaid but may fulfill academic or pro bono credit.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Candidates interested in an internship with CLA or CWJC should list which unit and office location they would prefer in their cover letter. For questions, please contact Recruitment Coordinator, Gertrude Addo at jobs@cla-ma.org.