2025 Summer Associate Program

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (Legal Aid) is looking for dedicated, hard-working, and public interest minded law students to work in Legal Aid’s four Northeast Ohio offices for our 2025 summer associate program. This is an in-person (not hybrid) summer associate program. Legal Aid is a non-profit law firm focused on the areas of consumer rights, disability, domestic violence, education, employment, family law, foreclosure, health, housing, immigration, public benefits, and tax.
Summer associates will be assigned to work in one practice area and will receive the opportunity to learn how to be excellent poverty law attorneys. Generally, summer associates will interview clients, draft court pleadings, research relevant legal issues, attend and assist with court hearings and trials, and gather and analyze evidence. They will observe oral arguments in a variety of courts. Legal Aid also has a focus on community education, outreach, and advocacy for specific vulnerable populations. In addition to their substantive work, summer associates may be assigned to do legal work with one of these groups.

Student Qualifications: Legal Aid summer associate applicants should have completed their first or second year of law school prior to the summer of 2025. Special consideration is given to students with a demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged people and communities. If your resume does not reflect a commitment to public service due to personal financial constraints, please provide an explanation in your cover letter. Law students who speak Spanish and other languages are strongly encouraged to apply.

Funding: Legal Aid offers summer associates $20 per hour for full-time, temporary employment based on hours completed during the 11-week summer program. The program is based on 37.5 hours per week.

Course Credit/Externship Credit: Legal Aid often supervises students seeking externship or other credit. Please indicate in your cover letter if you are working with a law school to receive course credit for this position.

Application Procedure: Qualifying students should follow the link and complete the application: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland (recruitingbypaycor.com) please submit, a resume, a cover letter, a writing sample, and a list of three (3) references. Application materials must be submitted by Sunday, February 16, 2025. Applications will only be accepted via online application. You will receive a confirmation email that your application materials have been received shortly after we receive your application.

Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate because of age, race, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identify/expression, or mental or physical disability.

Important Dates:
November 15, 2024: Position Opens on Cleveland Legal Aid Website
Sunday, February 16, 2025: Application Deadline
February 24, 2025 - March 7, 2024: Phone Interviews
March 12-21, 2025: Zoom Interviews
March 28, 2025 - April 4, 2025: Offers Extended**
April 2025: Summer Associates Announced
Monday, May 19, 2025: Tentative Orientation/Start of 2025 Summer Associate Program

Interviews will be conducted via Zoom videoconference.

**If offered a position, you must accept/decline within 72 hours.

About Us: Legal Aid’s mission is to secure justice and resolve fundamental problems for those who are low income and vulnerable by providing high quality legal services and working for systemic solutions. Founded in 1905, Legal Aid is the fifth oldest legal aid organization in the United States. Legal Aid’s staff of 145, which includes 75 attorneys, and over 3,000 volunteer attorneys ensure access to justice for low-income people. For more information, please visit www.lasclev.org.
Why Northeast Ohio: Northeast Ohio has a rich history of diverse cultures. It is home to the nationally renowned Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Browns, Guardians, and Cavaliers, an award-winning Metroparks system, vineyards, Lake Erie, and many other arts, recreation, and cultural attractions. Northeast Ohio also has a low cost of living. For more information on living and working in Northeast Ohio please visit www.teamneo.org and www.downtowncleveland.com. For information on housing please go to www.csuohio.edu/reslife.

Cleveland
1223 West Sixth Street
Cleveland, OH 44113

Cleveland
323 West Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH, 44113

Elyria
1530 West River Road North, Suite 301
Elyria, OH 44035

Jefferson
121 East Walnut St.
Jefferson, OH 44047

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

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Summer Associate