Academic Year Law Student Externships and Fellowships
Applications for remote or in-person, part- or full-time law student externships during the academic year are accepted on a rolling basis. Pine Tree is enthusiastic about partnering with law students and recent law graduates to develop fellowship proposals as resources allow. The number of opportunities varies from year to year. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume by email to Shannon Karam, Esq. (she/her), Director of Pro Bono Services, at [email protected].
Interested in applying for a post-graduate fellowship with Pine Tree? Our posting will be listed here when available: Careers at PTLA | Pine Tree Legal Assistance
Pine Tree is committed to creating an inclusive environment for staff and volunteers. We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including women, Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, immigrants, and people who have experienced poverty or homelessness.
Undergraduate Internships
Opportunities may include interviewing and presenting legal information to clients, and/or research, investigation, and assisting with development and program needs. PTLA also makes an effort to tailor responsibilities to each intern’s respective interests and goals. Interns can expect their experiences to enhance their understanding of Maine's civil legal system and of the obstacles people with low incomes face as they attempt to resolve often overwhelming legal matters.
Interns will learn how PTLA and other nonprofit legal services providers work to overcome barriers to justice, while making valuable contributions toward this goal. Activities may include attending staff case review sessions, observing court cases, participating in our summer lecture series introducing many of our areas of practice, and participating in group projects.
Duties and Responsibilities may include:
- Work closely with paralegals to intake new clients both in court and through call center hours.
- Meet with clients and assist with preparation of necessary paperwork and the collection of relevant evidence, including gathering documents, and photographing living conditions.
- Attend case meetings (as schedule allows) where attorneys collaboratively review cases and develop legal strategies for litigation.
- Shadow advocates at a variety of court proceedings, and possibly observe trial or law court arguments.
- Participate in a weekly lunch lecture series, gaining exposure to practice areas at Pine Tree across the state and insight into how the various areas of practice work together to provide holistic legal services to low-income Mainers.
- Assist with community outreach programs and research related to project and grant development.
- Assist with administrative tasks (data entry, copying, filing, etc.) as assigned.
Requirements:
Pine Tree seeks highly motivated student interns, with a demonstrated interest in working with low-income individuals from diverse backgrounds. Interns should have strong research, writing and communication skills, and the ability to work independently and in a group.
Undergraduate Internship Opportunities Summer 2024
The Summer 2024 undergraduate internship opportunity in our Consumer Law Unit has now been filled.
Undergraduate Academic Year Opportunities Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
For the upcoming academic year, we have two undergraduate internship opportunities:
Bangor Family Law and Victims' Rights Unit Intern
Staff attorneys with PTLA’s Family Law/Victims’ Rights Unit are seeking an undergraduate intern to work part-time in person in PTLA’s Bangor office. There is flexibility for the right person to work between eight (8) and thirty (30) hours per week, primarily during regular business hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm weekdays). There is also some flexibility about start and end dates, either for the Fall 2024 semester, the Spring 2025 semester, or both.
***Please note that cases handled by PTLA, particularly by our Family Law/Victims’ Rights Unit, often involve distressing subject matter including sexual assault, domestic violence, and other kinds of crises..
Consumer Unit Intern
Our statewide Consumer Law Unit, which assists clients with debt collection, foreclosure, auto fraud, student loans, and other consumer issues, is seeking an undergraduate intern to work part-time. There is some flexibility for the right person to work in-person, remotely, or hybrid (partially in-person, partially remote), and the position could be based in either our Augusta or Portland office. There is also some flexibility about start and end dates , either for the Fall 2024 semester, the Spring 2025 semester, or both.
The intern would be assisting with consumer-related research and outreach, and other duties as assigned (see our general undergraduate internship description above).
Both of these positions are unpaid, part-time internships. A schedule will be determined by the student and Pine Tree.
When applying, please note which of the above opportunities you are interested in; whether you are interested in a position for the fall, the spring, or for the entire academic year; and about how many hours per week you expect to be available.
Instructions for Applicants:
Please submit via email a cover letter and resume to Mary Murphy, Pro Bono Program Paralegal, at [email protected]. For a fall or full-year internship, applications are due by Friday, May 31, 2024, at 5 pm, and we hope to make a hiring decision by early July. Students must successfully pass a conflict and criminal background check before the internship is finalized.