Pro Bono Scholars 2026 - 2027

MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Practice is accepting applications from students participating in the Pro Bono Scholars Program (PBSP).

The PBSP allows students in their final year of law school to devote their last semester of study to performing pro bono service to underserved individuals and communities through an approved externship program, law school clinic, legal services provider, law firm or corporation.

Students who are accepted into the Pro Bono Scholars Program will spend 12 weeks, working full-time Monday through Friday, in a pro bono placement, while also completing an academic component at their law school. Students will have the opportunity to develop quality mentoring relationships and receive invaluable practical training under the supervision of both a practicing lawyer and a faculty member.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Duties and Responsibilities will ultimately be decided by the applicant’s supervisor(s)

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Must be a law student in their final year of law school
• Must first be accepted into the PBSP by your law school before applying for placement at The Legal Aid Society. Contact your law school's public interest office for additional details.
• Ability to commit 12 weeks of volunteer service
• Ability to work during regular business hours. We can’t accommodate volunteers who are only available at night or on the weekends
• Commitment to Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure equal justice before the law for all New Yorkers  
• Demonstrated interest in providing legal services to underserved populations and advancing access to justice
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume 

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.