Health, Education, Advocacy and Law Program Intern

Community Legal Aid Services is the primary provider of free civil legal representation to low-income and elderly residents of central northeast Ohio. Our mission is to serve the poor by securing justice, protecting rights, promoting measures for their assistance and providing quality representation.  The HEAL Program is a medical legal partnership of Legal Aid and a pediatric outpatient clinic at Akron Children’s Hospital.  The objective of this collaboration is to address social determinants of health that are amendable to legal and/or policy intervention.

This Akron-based position is unpaid, part-time volunteer position with flexible scheduling. The position would be suitable for a student of law/health policy, a lawyer, a paralegal or a community member interested in health policy, the law and community service. The position is open until filled.

Position Description:

Under the supervision and mentoring of an attorney and managing attorney, the Student Intern or Volunteer will assist in the provision of legal services to eligible clients and other work of the HEAL Program in accordance with Program priorities and guidelines, including but not limited to:

• Conduct intake screening and initial client interview with patients referred to HEAL through our medical-legal partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital
• Conduct factual investigations including client interviews, searching public records, etc.
• Attend hearings, trials and outreach events
• Conduct legal and policy research
• Draft pleadings / research memoranda / policy papers / correspondence
• Such other tasks as may be assigned

Job Qualifications:

• Demonstrated interest in and sensitivity to the legal needs of the poor as well as motivation to improve the condition of the poor
• Personal characteristics include:  excellent interpersonal skills, first-rate oral and written communications skills, professional attitude, discretion, diplomacy and tact, ability to relate to professionals, strong analytical and organizational skills, and high dependability
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Internet research tools
• Ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable   

To Apply:   

Complete a community member volunteer application - include writing sample with other required attachments.

Submit your application by e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

    * Indicate in your email that you are applying for the 'HEAL Intern Position' in the subject line.

Community Legal Aid Services is an equal opportunity employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.

Summer Intern Program

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2012 PROGRAM ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED.

Details about the 2013 program will be available in late 2012

Community Legal Aid and Northeast Ohio Legal Services are private non-profit law firms which work to bridge the gap between poverty and justice for low income and elderly residents of central northeast Ohio. We concentrate our efforts on legal work that makes a difference in the lives of poor people.

• Legal Aid provides economic benefits for clients by ensuring that they receive public benefits (e.g., unemployment insurance, Medicaid, housing subsidies, etc.) to which they are entitled and by preventing the collection of wrongful or unenforceable debt
• Legal Aid improves the lives of poor people by:
  ▪ securing their personal safety with the protection and support orders that enable victims of domestic violence to make a fresh start free from abuse,
  ▪ obtaining health care benefits,
  ▪ preventing homelessness by defending eviction actions, preserving homeownership, and ensuring the habitability of dwellings,
  ▪ protecting consumer and taxpayer rights and essential property, and
  ▪ helping people to make informed personal decisions through the provision of timely, accurate legal advice, information, and pro se assistance.