Semesters offered: 
Type: Nonprofit
Categories: Civil Litigation, Consumer, Disability Law, Domestic Violence Advocacy, Elder Law, Family Law, Health Law, Housing Law, Insurance, Landlord/Tenant Law, Poverty Law
SITE DESCRIPTION
Founded in 1924 by prominent members of the Atlanta bar, Atlanta Legal Aid is recognized as one of the cutting-edge legal services providers in the country. Our 60+ staff attorneys work on a variety of issues, ranging from public benefits to complex mortgage litigation. Significant casework includes Olmstead vs. L.C. & E.W., a 1999 US Supreme Court decision that expanded the Americans with Disabilities Act to institutionalized individuals with disabilities. Home to nationally recognized experts in a number of practice areas, our attorneys appear in local print and television media and in national media such as The Nation, the New York Times, NPR, all major network nightly news broadcasts, and CNN. Our attorneys have testified before Congress and consulted on legislation on both a local and state level. Our program partners with major law firms and corporate counsel offices such as UPS for our highly successful Associate Fellowship Program as well as uniquely-tailored pro bono projects.
Externs have the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of civil law matters, including legal research and writing, drafting of pleadings, investigation, document collection and organization, client interviewing, and client representation in administrative hearings. Externs receive a primary supervisor with ongoing responsibility for mentoring and on the job training, and opportunities to work with other staff in the work unit to which she/he is assigned.
Atlanta Legal Aid welcomes externs for the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Summer Externs receive a program orientation at the beginning of the summer. Additionally, our mentoring program includes advice and assistance in preparing for possible fellowships, clerkships, and public interest positions. Our summer class enjoys social gatherings with other interns and staff, as well as visits to the Carter Center and other Atlanta landmarks.
The Offices/Units available to externs are as follows:
Cobb County Office
The Cobb County Office, located on the Marietta Square, represents low-income persons in a variety of civil legal problems, including domestic relations, housing, consumer, public benefits, juvenile deprivation, education, and health law. Externs interview clients, conduct research, write memos, draft pleadings, conduct investigations, gather documents and search court records. Second and third-year students also may be eligible to go to court under the student practice rule.
Externs working with the Cobb office’s Temporary Protective Order Project are afforded the opportunity to make court appearances weekly. Externs will represent a petitioner at his or her TPO hearing every Tuesday in Cobb Superior Court. As a result, the extern will need to be free on Tuesdays. This unique opportunity includes being involved in all aspects of the case: initial client interview, fact investigation, negotiating with Respondent’s attorney or Respondent, representation at hearing, etc.
Fulton Domestic Relations Unit
The Fulton Domestic Relations Unit represents low-income persons in a variety of family law problems, prioritizing intervention in domestic abuse, securing child custody, and establishing support. The unit also handles legitimations, adoptions, legal separations, and public benefits relating to these cases. Externs interview clients, conduct research, write memos, draft pleadings, conduct investigations, gather documents, and search court records. Second and third-year students also may be eligible to go to court under the student practice rule.
General Law Unit
The General Law Unit, located just a short walk from the GSU law school, represents low-income persons in a variety of civil legal problems, including housing, consumer, public benefits, and education. Externs have the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of civil law matters, including legal research and writing, drafting of pleadings, investigation, document collection and organization, client interviewing, and client representation in administrative hearings.
Gwinnett County Office
The Gwinnett County Office, located in Lawrenceville, represents low-income persons in a variety of civil legal problems, including domestic relations, housing, consumer, public benefits, juvenile deprivation, education, and health law. Externs interview clients, conduct research, write memos, draft pleadings, conduct investigations, gather documents, and search court records. Second and third-year students also may be eligible to go to court under the student practice rule.
Health Law Unit
The Health Law Unit, located just a short walk from the GSU law school, provides comprehensive and compassionate legal services which have a direct impact on health and quality of life to low-income individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and ALS. It provides a broad range of civil legal services to low-income people including legal issues related to employment, Social Security disability, short- and long-term disability insurance, access to health care, housing/landlord-tenant, consumer and debt issues, public benefits, family law, as well as end of life and estate planning. Externs interview clients, conduct research, write memos, draft pleadings, conduct investigations, gather documents, and search court records.
Pro Bono Unit
The Pro Bono Unit connects volunteer attorneys with low-income persons to provide representation in a variety of civil legal problems, including the grandparents’ adoption project, minor and adult guardianship petitions, housing law, protection from domestic abuse, child custody, employment, housing law, and consumer law. Externs participate in the case acceptance and referral process, interview clients, conduct research, write memos, draft pleadings, conduct investigations, gather documents, and search court records.
Senior Citizens Law Project
Students work in the Senior Citizens Law Project (SCLP) of Atlanta Legal Aid Society under the supervision of an attorney. SCLP provides legal representation on issues relating to public benefits, nursing homes and personal care homes, housing, consumer, probate, guardianship, advance directives, and elder abuse and financial exploitation. Participating students will be expected to interview clients and witnesses, prepare pleadings, research legal issues, research court records and represent clients in administrative hearings.
Southside Office
The Southside Office, located in South Fulton County on Cleveland Avenue, represents low-income persons living in Clayton and South Fulton Counties, in a variety of civil legal problems, including housing, consumer, public benefits, family law, education, and health law. Externs interview clients, conduct research, write memos, draft pleadings, conduct investigations, gather documents, search court records, and represent clients in administrative hearings.
STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS
Prerequisites: None
Preferences: 2Ls and 3Ls may apply.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Students should indicate the Office/Unit for which they would like to be considered on their Statement of Interest.
- At the time of application, students must submit a writing sample.