GBLS receives generous financial support from a broad spectrum of the Greater Boston community. The ongoing support of local law firms, coupled with the individual support of lawyers has been constant since 1900. We also rely on generous annual support from the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, which distributes legislative appropriations in addition to revenue from Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA).

We have also received long-term support from numerous foundations and charitable organizations. We currently receive grants from the United Way, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, the Boston Bar Foundation, and private and family foundations. GBLS also receives numerous grants from municipal, state and federal government agencies.

Despite this generous support from so many sources, the need for legal services far outstrips our ability to provide it. GBLS is forced to turn away three out of every five people who ask us for help because we don’t have the staff to serve them. Each of these people are in a legal crisis when they call for help, and GBLS staff must decide who to serve based on such criteria as: Which battered woman is in the MOST immediate danger without legal help? Which family will become homeless FIRST without representation in Housing Court?

If you are interested in making a donation to help GBLS represent more individuals and families who need help with basic human needs, please contact Tamar Lewis at 617-603-1595, or click here to donate online.

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GBLS offers a variety of legal and non-legal internships. Because of budgetary constraints, all positions described herein are unfunded (unless otherwise noted).

For legal internships, we are seeking interns who can obtain full outside funding or will work on a for-credit basis. Many former interns have successfully arranged for their own funding by combining work-study and public interest grants. Students should inquire about public interest funding sources at their law school.

Please send a resume and cover letter indicating which positions below interest you and your available hours to: Sonia Marquez, Personnel Director, GBLS, 197 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114. Each position shows minimum hours/week commitment required as well as years in law school, if applicable.

STUDENT POSITION

Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) seeks an energetic candidate to fill student position. Required experience: technical/computer experience; exceptional oral communication and organizational skills; ability to work well in a busy environment; self-directed - ability to see a problem through from start to completion, enlisting others help when necessary; Student would be expected to work up to 20 hours a week.

LEGAL INTERNSHIPS

A. EMPLOYMENT & WELFARE UNIT

Employment - We are seeking law students to represent clients in unemployment hearings and represent immigrants in work-related problems including wage and hour claims, discrimination cases (based on race, national origin and citizenship status), and other issues. Student assistance is also needed with on-going administrative and legislative advocacy as well as pending class actions. Fluency in Spanish, Cantonese, or other languages is particularly valued as is the completion of courses on evidence, administrative advocacy, and employment law. A minimum of 20 hours a week is preferred. Work study funding is available.

Welfare/Child Care/Education and Training - Intern openings for energetic and self-starting law students to work on projects and/or handle cases. Direct client representation, along with related legislative and policy advocacy, is needed for families that have lost benefits or are scheduled to lose benefits under the harsh Mass. welfare time limit. Special protections for victims of domestic violence, mentally disabled recipients, and families with disabled children are available under the law but poorly implemented. Representation by legal advocates is critical in enforcing these protections. We also deal with problems arising from workfare requirements, from the welfare agency's discouragement or denial of access to education and training programs needed by recipients to qualify for employment, and from the agency's denial of child care benefits to recipients for education, training, or other job development activities, or in order to take a job. Fluency in another language (particularly Spanish) is a plus. Students wishing to directly handle cases must be able to commit about 20 hours per week, but client contact is available with fewer hours. Some funded and work study positions available.

Family Economic Initiative - We seek student interns to participate in our effort to build a state-wide, broad coalition to advocate against the welfare time limit. Students will work directly with the campaign coordinator to expand FEI’s grassroots involvement, coordinate legislative lobbying efforts, and intensify public education. Students must be able to commit at least 20 hours a week.

B. HOUSING UNIT - Evictions, Public and subsidized housing issues, emergency shelter access and terminations. Individual case representation and legal research on litigation and legislative matters; special projects if time permits. 10 to 16 hours/week.

C. ELDER UNIT - Client intake/interviewing and representation in the areas of housing, health and income benefits and nursing home issues; factual and legal research and writing. 10 to 20 hours/week.

D. FAMILY LAW UNIT (Divorce) - Responsibility for divorce and 209A caseload, including court appearance, under attorney supervision. Evidence course and attendance at a Massachusetts law school required. Work study funded or $7.50 hourly. Possibility of continued employment throughout year, full time in summer. 10-14 hours/week, more if work-study eligible or on independent funding.

FAMILY LAW UNIT (Middlesex Probate Court Domestic Violence Project) - Law students to work at Middlesex Probate Court, providing assistance to victims of domestic violence, including preparation of court pleadings, advocacy at restraining order hearings, safety planning and referrals to support services. Students work under paralegal and attorney supervision. Minimum: 12 hours/ week. To receive funding, students must be work study eligible or willing to work for employer work study match.

E. HEALTH UNIT - Areas of work include: representing individuals who have disability claims pending at the Office of Hearings & Appeals, Social Security Administration; interviewing clients, developing record for administrative hearing and appearing at the hearing; representing individuals and some community groups on access to health care issues; dealing with administrative agencies such as The Division of Medical Assistance, as well as legal research and writing. Fluency in a foreign language (especially Spanish) is a plus. 16 hours/week required.

MEDICARE ADVOCACY PROJECT - Factual and legal research, writing, some client intake and representation in area of Medicare. 20 hours/week minimum.

F. CAMBRIDGE OFFICE - At the Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services' office of GBLS(CASLS), we are seeking summer law students to work in the following substantive areas: family law; housing and public benefits law; elder law and mental health/disability rights law. We have a total of approximately 3-4 summer internships available. A minimum of 20 hours per week is required, but full time is preferable. Work study funding is available. Students are given opportunities to have direct casehandling and client contact responsibilities, combined with legal research and other assignments on systemic reform projects. Please indicate which of the listed areas you might be most interested in.

G. IMMIGRATION UNIT - Law students handle political asylum cases, cases involving undocumented battered women and occasional other matters, and help staff the walk-in intake clinic. Limited opportunity for courtroom experience and legal research but great opportunity to work one on one with clients. Language ability (especially Spanish, French and Haitian Creole) and immigration experience or course work preferred but not required. Minimum of 20 hours.

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