Law Student Intern

This is an excellent opportunity for current law students to intern/extern in a mid-sized-city municipal environment. Interns are given broad exposure to a variety of issues, including Municipal Law, Housing, Zoning, Municipal Finance, Employment Law, Labor Law, Environmental Law, Government Contracts, and Litigation.

About the Office

The Office of The Corporation Counsel (“OCC”) is the chief legal advisor to, and the attorney for, the City and all City officers, boards, commissions, and departments in matters relating to their official duties. The Corporation Counsel is responsible for rendering advice and legal opinions to City officials and representing departments, boards, commissions, officers, and officials on legal matters within their respective jurisdictions, including court cases, transactions, and administrative hearings before state agencies.

The OCC is organized into four sections: Transactional and Policy Practice Group, Litigation Group, Real Estate & Commercial Practice Group, and Employment Practice Group. It is also responsible for the Labor Relations Division of the City of New Haven. All sections are located at 165 Church Street, 4th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510, and a remote work option is available.

Office Sections and Responsibilities

Transactional & Policy Practice Group

• Negotiates, drafts, and reviews all City contracts as to form and correctness, including memoranda of agreement with third parties and memoranda of understanding among governmental entities.
• Works on all matters relating to land use, acquisition, contract, and zoning law.
• Advises the City with respect to policy development and drafting procedures.
• Advises and trains City officials, departments, boards, and commissions with respect to compliance with applicable law and regulations.
• Represents City officials, departments, boards, and commissions at administrative hearings before the Freedom of Information Commission.

Litigation Group

• Civil litigation before federal and state courts; administrative litigation before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Freedom of Information Commission.
• Areas of practice include personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights (including excessive force and false arrest), education law, constitutional law, tax appeals, foreclosures, real property, zoning, landlord/tenant, commercial law, employment law, civil service disputes, worker’s compensation, and environmental law.

Real Estate & Commercial Practice Group

• Work on projects overseen by the Economic Development Administration and the Livable City Initiative, including real estate acquisition and disposition, commercial loans, small business loans, home loans, façade grants, real estate closings, releases, liens, tax collections, and related matters.
• Negotiates and drafts documentation for complex City development projects.

Employment Practice Group

• Collaborates with the Department of Labor Relations and Department of Human Resources on employee-related matters such as workers’ compensation claims and complaints before the Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities.

Responsibilities

This is an internship/externship position for a student enrolled in an accredited law school, under the direction and supervision of attorneys in the Office of the Corporation Counsel. This position involves assisting attorneys in working with city officials, departments, boards, and commissions in all areas of municipal law. The law student intern is encouraged to exercise independent, professional judgement in the performance of work and will be expected to learn basic principles of file management. Interns will have opportunities to practice in all areas of municipal law under the supervision of an attorney.

• Appears with attorneys at administrative hearings, court proceedings, witness depositions, pretrials, and trials.
• Performs legal research and drafts legal memoranda as requested.
• Drafts pleadings, motions, briefs, appeals, and memoranda for filing in the appropriate court.
• Participates with attorneys in all aspects of the litigation process, including drafting discovery requests, assisting with preparation of depositions, and attending pretrial/settlement conferences.
• Works closely with attorneys to advise client officials, departments, boards, and commissions on legal issues within their jurisdiction, pursue civil enforcement actions, and defend the City before administrative agencies.
• Applies legal principles and procedures of municipal law, constitutional law, employment law, and real property law to a wide variety of legal issues affecting the operation of a municipality.
• Performs other related work as requested.

Law Student Interns will receive mentoring, including attending depositions, court appearances, and trials/hearings. They will interact with stakeholders and clients as appropriate and will receive substantive feedback on assignments.

Requirements

• Preferred Education: First year (or second year part-time) law students.
• Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited College/University law school program; proof of current enrollment required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles and procedures of civil law, especially as they relate to municipal government, and the ability to apply this knowledge to varied legal issues.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of legal research.
• Knowledge of judicial and administrative procedures, and the rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of constitutional provisions, laws, regulations, and ordinances affecting municipal operations.
• Knowledge of municipal government structures, and operations of Boards and Commissions, and their relationship to other public jurisdictions.
• Software skills, including use of Microsoft Office software and web-based applications.
• Verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of management.
• Time management, organizational, and multi-tasking skills necessary to work in a fast-paced environment, handling various tasks and changing priorities, while maintaining a high attention to detail and accuracy to achieve daily assignments and goals.
• Ability to analyze, review, and make recommendations.
• Experience in municipal law is preferred.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Resume
• Writing Sample
• Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)

Pay

These internships are unpaid positions. Accepted applicants may arrange externships with their schools for course credit for their work.