Each summer, LAWO and ABLE provide volunteer opportunities for law students interested in gaining legal experience and working to better their community. Volunteers will assist legal aid attorneys in substantive areas of law, ranging from: civil rights, social security, housing, immigration, tax and family law.
Summer Associate Positions
Summer Associate positions provide valuable practical experience and mentoring to students pursuing careers in public interest law. This formal, 10-week program is designed to provide the summer associate with a full introduction to major poverty law areas as well as traditional research and writing assignments. Summer Associates also have an opportunity to gain additional knowledge of the practice of law through meetings with local attorneys and judges. Experienced attorneys mentor Associates on how to excel in a public interest law career.
Associate positions are unpaid. Applicants are encouraged to seek scholarships or fellowships through their law school, as well as to apply for grants through sources such as the Federal Work Study program, Equal Justice Works or Equal Justice America. Alternatively, applicants may seek credit from their law school externship program.
Be advised that there is a preference for 2L candidates, but highly-qualified 1Ls may be considered. Candidates are encouraged to apply early as these positions are competitive. ABLE and LAWO will begin accepting applications in the fall for Summer 2010.
Summer Law Clerk Positions – Migrant Farmworker Programs
Each summer we hire first and second year law students and law graduates who have the ability to relate well with farmworker clients. It is essential that candidates communicate in Spanish, however, exceptionally qualified non-bilingual applicants may be considered. Students should be prepared to participate in an intensive training program in late May. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to equal justice as well as excellent writing and oral communication skills. Access to an automobile throughout the summer is necessary. Work hours may vary. Staff are paid on an hourly basis.
Internships
Internships are unpaid and not for credit, but provide students with valuable legal work experience. 1Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are encouraged to apply by contacting either the Dayton or Toledo offices. A resume and cover letter detailing areas of interest is required. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, according to need and capacity.
Externships
We may be able to work with your law school to create a for-credit, semester-long externship with LAWO or ABLE. Please contact your school's externship advisor for additional information.
LAWO and ABLE Student Research Squad (LASRS)
LASRS is the remote research team of LAWO and ABLE. After attending an orientation session, students are given access to an online database of assignments for legal aid attorneys. After selecting an assignment that is completed by the student offsite, the participant receives feedback on their research and writing skills. LASRS is a great way to gain legal research and writing experience with ABLE and LAWO if your schedule prevents you from obtaining a traditional externship or internship.
For more information on any of these programs, please contact:
Julia Martin (Dayton) at (937) 535-4405 at
Anneliese Gryta (Toledo) at (419) 930-2380 at
ABLE and LAWO have volunteer opportunities throughout their 32-county service area, including offices in Toledo, Dayton, Defiance, Fremont, Lima, Mansfield, Sandusky and Springfield.
