Summer 2027 Law Intern, Criminal Defense Practice
About
Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) is a national nonprofit public defense organization that pioneered the holistic defense model more than 30 years ago. Founded in Harlem, NDS was built to challenge the traditional public defense model by centering clients, communities, and interdisciplinary advocacy. Today, NDS operates community-based offices in Harlem; the Bronx; Detroit; and Hays County, Texas, supported by a unified national infrastructure that allows local teams to deliver high-quality, responsive representation rooted in the communities they serve. Across all locations, NDS provides client-centered legal representation through interdisciplinary teams composed of attorneys, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. Our approach emphasizes early and ongoing engagement with clients—before arrest where possible, throughout the life of a case, and beyond case resolution—while addressing the legal, social, and systemic challenges that impact long-term stability. NDS is committed to treating every client with dignity and respect and to advancing justice for individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized and over-policed.
Responsibilities
- Legal research and writing
- Court appearances
- Client interviews
- Precinct visits
- Witness interviews
- Investigation assistance
- Client visits at jails and juvenile detention facilities
- Participation in other activities that NDS staff undertakes on behalf of clients
Qualifications
- Law student with demonstrated commitment to criminal defense and social justice issues
- Energy, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to clients
Pay
Unpaid internship.
Schedule
Hybrid internship running for 10 weeks, typically from the first week of June through the first week of August.