Public Service Internship in the Probate & Family Court

Senior Partners for Justice, a unique pro bono initiative at the Volunteer Lawyers Project, is pleased to offer an internship program for law students who want to provide critical assistance to low-income clients while gaining hands-on experience in the Probate and Family Court.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Interns are placed in the Suffolk, Middlesex, and Norfolk County Probate and Family Courts, working directly alongside courthouse staff. This is an unpaid, non-credit internship, but it offers invaluable experience and a flexible schedule that can fit around other commitments.

The program is offered in the summer, fall, and spring semesters. During the fall semester, the program runs from early September to mid-November. We ask interns to spend at least one full day (8 hours) or two half days at their courthouse each week.

The nature of the internship is a little different at each site:

• At the Suffolk County court (located near North Station and Government Center), interns staff the very busy front desk in the clerk’s office and also have the chance to help the Lawyer for the Day and observe court proceedings.

• At the Middlesex County court (located in East Cambridge, at the Lechmere stop of the Green Line), interns rotate between different departments, gaining broad exposure to areas including Divorce and Paternity.

• At the Norfolk County court (located in Canton, accessible only by car), interns work directly with the staff member who assists unrepresented litigants, and they have a chance for more one-on-one interaction at a smaller and less busy court.

All participants in the internship program will receive support from the Senior Partners staff and invitations to trainings, luncheons, and other events through Senior Partners and Volunteer Lawyers Project.

REGISTRATION

If you have questions or would like to sign up, please contact Jessica Rubin-Wills at 617-423-0648 x129 or jrubin-wills@vlpnet.org and indicate which days you are available and which courts you prefer. We hope to accommodate all interested students, and we will try to assign interns to their first or second choice site.