Legal Intern Fellowship Program
Looking for an internship? Check out the MBF
IOLTA Grantees
Note to Law Students: Read about an additonal
resource for summer internship funding available through the Napolitano
Internship Fund.
The Legal Intern Fellowship Program was established in 1996 to
encourage careers in the law that further the goals of social
justice, while contributing valuable legal support to organizations
serving the under-represented in Massachusetts. To assist law
students in gaining practical experience in the public sector, the
Massachusetts Bar Foundation awards up to six (6) stipends of
$6,000 each to law students who intern during the
summer months at nonprofit organizations providing civil legal
services to low-income clients in Massachusetts.
Funding from the Smith Family Fund will support one (1) stipend,
and from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation's Fellows Fund will
support up to five (5) stipends. The Smith Family Fund was created
as a permanent endowment to the Massachusetts Bar Foundation in
1989 to provide legal services to low-income individuals. The
Fellows Fund has been in existence since the Massachusetts Bar
Foundation was established in 1964. Fellows of the Massachusetts
Bar Foundation contribute to this fund, which supports
philanthropic initiatives that improve the administration of
justice, promote an understanding of the law, and ensure equal
access to the legal system for all residents of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, particularly those most vulnerable.
Applicant
Requirements
- The Legal Intern Fellowship Program invites applications from
law students who have secured a volunteer
internship with a qualified nonprofit organization in
Massachusetts. Many MBF IOLTA grantees' programs would meet the
eligibility requirements of the LIFP. Please be advised that
applicants are not limited to these organizations. In addition,
applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled in a United States law school. Preference
will be given to permanent/future residents of Massachusetts.
- Demonstrate a commitment to public interest law, including
experience working with low-income clients and/or issues that
affect this population.
- Commit to work no less than ten (10) continuous, full-time
weeks between June 1 and October 1. Note: Applicants must
specify the duration of his/her commitment at the time of
application
- Stipends will be paid directly to the intern's organization.
The organization will be responsible for administering the stipend,
including payment to the intern and filing appropriate tax
reports.
- Stipends may be combined with other awards.
The proposed internship must be designed to give the intern
substantial legal experience with serving and representing clients,
as well as preparing legal documents. The internship must be
conducted at a nonprofit organization in Massachusetts that has
been in operation for at least one year and has programs dedicated
to providing civil legal services to the indigent in Massachusetts.
In addition, the organization must have a staff attorney who will
supervise and mentor the intern. Please note, criminal
law-related internships are not eligible. In addition, the
MBF does not generally provide funding for internships at law
school sponsored clinics or government agencies.
Application Process A
complete application will include the following:
Please submit all materials together to:
Please do not fax or email applications. Please contact us with
any questions at 617-338-0534 or email the foundation.
Selection Process A
committee including Trustees from both the Massachusetts Bar
Foundation and the Smith Family Fund will select the most
competitive applicants to receive stipends.