Social Work Practicum (unpaid)

Description

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) is a nonprofit law firm providing free, quality civil legal services. LSEM advances justice through legal representation, education, and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness and create opportunities for those in need.

Social Work Practicum
Social Work practicum students are an important part of LSEM's holistic, interdisciplinary service delivery team. The opportunities and experiences available to practicum students vary depending on student interests and the needs of the specific programs or departments that are seeking to fill positions. Please click here for more information.

Practicum activities may include –

• Client intake, assessment, and interviewing;
• Case management and service navigation;
• Crisis intervention and safety planning;
• Hearing/trial preparation and courtroom support;
• Client- and community-level advocacy;
• Community networking, outreach, and coalition building;
• Educational presentations to staff, community partners, and clients;
• Policy research and analysis;
• Needs assessment and program evaluation;
• Grant research, writing, and reporting;
• Resource development; and
• Much, much more…

Available Positions
Legal Services is seeking to hire practicum students for the positions in the following programs/departments. More information on these programs can be found on our website at https://lsem.org/get-help-now/services/. Please note that we do not have any Summer 2026 positions available.

• Advocates for Older Adults
• Children's Legal Alliance (CLA)
• Health & Welfare Programs (Advocates for Family Health, Connecting Kids to Coverage, and Public Benefits)
• Housing Law Program
• Lasting Solutions Family Law Program
• Legal Advocacy for Adults with Mental Illness (LAAMI)
• Rural Outreach
• Youth and Family Advocacy Program (YFAP)

Requirements

• Enrolled in a BSW or MSW program 
• Strong problem-solving and de-escalation skills 
• Ability to engage and collaborate with clients and community partners from diverse backgrounds  
• Effective writing and verbal communication skills 
• Strong organizational and collaboration skills 
• Attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information with discretion 

This position is subject to a background screening through the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR). As a condition of employment, finalists must: 

• Register with the FCSR using the state’s Background Screening and Employee Eligibility System (BSEES) portal before a screening can be completed. 
• Provide the information required by the state to register (including a Social Security Number (SSN) and other identifying details).  
• Request their FCSR background screening results after registration and submit a copy of the results to us by the stated deadline.  

Employment is contingent upon timely completion of the FCSR process and results that meet role eligibility standards. More information about the FCSR.  

What we do 

LSEM advances justice through legal representation, education, and supportive services. We partner with the community to improve lives, promote fairness, and create opportunities for those in need. Since 1956, LSEM has provided high-quality civil legal assistance and equal access to justice for low-income people in 21 counties in Missouri. We accomplish our mission through systemic advocacy/impact litigation and individual case work in a wide range of substantive civil areas which are in our priorities, e.g., family law for victims of domestic violence, prevention of homelessness/housing, health, public benefits, consumer, education, disability, community economic development, and immigration. As part of our community education/outreach efforts, LSEM works with over 150 agencies and participates in over 35 task forces/coalitions and has a vibrant Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Who we are

At Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, we embrace a culture that celebrates and promotes the many backgrounds, heritages, and perspectives of our colleagues and clients. We seek to hire individuals from a variety of backgrounds, who are professional, collaborative, and creative thinkers with a passion for our mission, and create an environment where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will make employment decisions based on merit.

How to Apply

Upload your resume and cover letter through our online application at https://lsem.org/about/employment/. 

Equal access to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s office is available. Those applicants requiring accommodation to the interview/application process should contact Human Resources at the e-mail HR@lsem.org. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is an equal opportunity employer.