2027 Summer Intern - Homelessness Prevention Law Project

About the role

To apply for a summer internship with HPLP, you must be in your first or second year of law school. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample, all in PDF form. Your resume must reflect the law school you are currently enrolled in, to be considered for any summer program internship at Public Counsel. In your cover letter, discuss why you are interested in interning with Public Counsel generally and with any subproject in HPLP specifically. We are especially interested in receiving applications from historically underrepresented students consistent with our active, ongoing commitment to increasing equity and inclusion, and we value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please consider addressing these topics in your cover letter, especially if not reflected in your resume.

Homelessness Prevention Law Project subprojects

• Connecting Angelenos To Resources And Essential Services (CARES)
  CARES is a public benefits advocacy program where we go unannounced into L.A. County’s Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) offices to provide on-the-spot advocacy to benefits recipients and individuals/families eligible for benefits, including General Relief, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs. Student interns conduct client interviews, identify benefits needs, and provide day-of advocacy in the DPSS offices.
• The Shriver Housing Project – Los Angeles (Shriver)
  The Shriver Housing Project – Los Angeles is a joint project of Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, Inner City Law Center, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, and Public Counsel, working in partnership with the Los Angeles Superior Court and funded by the California Administrative Office of the Courts. The program provides critical legal services to low-income individuals and families who might otherwise not have access to legal assistance or representation. Interns work directly with clients and develop litigation skills by collaborating with paralegals and attorneys throughout all stages of an eviction defense case, including client phone calls, drafting pleadings and discovery, researching and drafting motions, and observing court hearings.
• Stay Housed LA (SHLA)
  SHLA is a partnership between Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles and local community and legal service providers to provide residents of Los Angeles County, from Lancaster to Long Beach, with information and resources to keep people in their homes. Through this program, Public Counsel provides eviction defense to City of Los Angeles residents, conducts legal clinics in collaboration with community-based organizations, and engages in advocacy to strengthen tenant protections. The SHLA Summer Intern will receive a $10,000 stipend. Interns work directly with clients and develop litigation skills by collaborating with paralegals and attorneys throughout all stages of an eviction defense case, including follow-up phone calls, preparing court forms and conducting discovery, researching and writing legal briefs and motions, observing court hearings, and assisting with legal clinics.
• Affirmative Litigation Team (ALT)
  The Affirmative Litigation team fights to vindicate the rights of tenants to live in safe, well-cared-for, secure housing, free of harassment and discrimination. The unit focuses on litigation addressing habitability concerns, illegal lockouts, constructive evictions, discriminatory housing practices, and tenant harassment. Interns conduct or assist with client interviews, evaluate and analyze potential legal claims, conduct legal research, draft litigation memos or legal briefs, assist with preparing lawsuits for filing, and attend legal clinics.
• Center for Veterans’ Advancement (CVA)
  CVA is a national leader in veterans’ advocacy, providing legal representation to veterans and their families to ensure access to benefits, housing, employment, and health and mental healthcare. Interns gain hands-on experience in both direct services and systemic advocacy, including conducting client intakes, follow-up phone calls, medical records reviews, researching and drafting legal memos, and assisting with HPLP’s legal clinics.

About Public Counsel

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.