Legal Intern Fellowship Program
The MBF’s Legal Intern Fellowship Program was established in 1996 to give talented law students the experience necessary to pursue careers in public interest law while also providing legal aid organizations with much-needed additional staff capacity for the summer.
The 2024 application process has closed.
Through a competitive process, the MBF awards stipends of $8,000 to law students who intern during the summer months at legal aid organizations providing civil legal services to low-income clients in Massachusetts. These awards are supported by generous contributions from MBF Fellows, the Smith Family Fund, and the MBA Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee.
GENERAL PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
LIFP applicants must:
Be currently enrolled in a United States law school. Note: Preference will be given to permanent/future residents of Massachusetts.
Have secured a volunteer internship with one qualified nonprofit organization in Massachusetts where the primary focus of the internship is to provide civil legal services to low-income clients. The proposed internship must be designed to give the intern substantial legal experience with serving and representing clients, as well as preparing legal documents.
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 May 1 and Sept. 30. Note: Applicants must specify the duration of their commitment at the time of application.
ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The internship must be conducted at a nonprofit organization that:
Is in Massachusetts.
Is a nonprofit organization.
Has been in operation for at least one year.
Has programs dedicated to providing civil (not criminal) legal services to low-income clients in Massachusetts.
Has a staff attorney who will supervise and mentor the intern.
Many MBF Grantees meet the organization eligibility requirements of the LIFP, however applicants are not limited to these organizations.
Please note: 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.
Contact us with any questions at (617) 338-0647 or foundation@massbar.org.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The online application process will open on January 2, 2024.
A complete application will include:
Completion of Application Information section
Essay
Completed Organizational Support Statement
Resume
Unofficial Law Student Transcript
Unofficial Undergraduate Transcript
One Letter of Reference from a supervisor, professor, or similar professional contact
LINKS
General Program Information [Download]
Organizational Support Statement [Download]
LIFP 25th Anniversary Article [Download]
List of prior LIFP award recipients [Download]
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.
"LIFP allows students like me to pursue a career in public interest law without making sacrifices along the way, and for that, I am very grateful”
— Madison Picard, 2020 LIFP