join our team
There are no positions at this time. We will update this page with information about job opportunities as they become available.
VOLUNTEERING at The Legal Rights Center
Attorneys and law students interested in volunteering with the Legal Rights Center are encouraged to participate as volunteers with the First Defense Hotline. Visit this webpage to learn more about the program and opportunities to train and volunteer. Please reach out to Marecca Vertin (mvertin@legalrightscenter.org) with questions or requests for additional information.
Student Internships
Applications are closed for summer 2026 internships.
LRC Legal Interns work alongside Community Defense Program attorneys to provide high-quality representation, at no cost, to adults facing criminal charges and youth facing juvenile delinquency allegations in Hennepin County. Interns work alongside attorneys and clients through every stage of their legal cases. They are expected to conduct client interviews, discovery review, and legal research, as well as appear in court alongside attorneys. Legal Interns may also support our clients in applying for expungement or commutation.
Legal Interns also have the opportunity to support the LRC’s policy advocacy, community engagement, and legal education work. This work includes research into current Minnesota law and successful reforms in other jurisdictions; tabling at community events; and development of legal education materials.
Finally, to provide community-oriented defense, our interns draw from their own experiences, as well as the training and support of LRC attorneys, to advocate for and address clients’ needs and priorities beyond their legal cases. This means identifying and connecting clients with resources to support their mental health and housing needs, educational goals, and more. Like our attorneys and community advocates, our interns understand that our clients are whole human beings, whose lives and dreams extend far beyond the courtroom.
In short, Legal Interns gain experience in the LRC’s holistic and creative approach to pursuing justice form our communities.
Responsibilities may include:
- Interviewing clients, family members, and/or witnesses
- Developing investigation requests
- Conducting case-related investigations
- Participating in case brainstorming sessions
- Developing case theories
- Reviewing police reports and other case materials
- Researching appropriate case law
- Writing evidentiary motions
- Arguing evidentiary hearings in court
- Assisting in trial preparation
- Participating in trials
- Negotiating case resolutions with prosecuting attorneys
- Identifying other legal and/or non-legal client needs
- Tabling at community events
- Drafting community education materials
- Researching policy reforms
Essential qualifications
- Pursuing a J.D. at an ABA-accredited law school
- Bona fide interest in criminal defense and/or criminal legal reform
- Commitment to a multidisciplinary approach to criminal defense, including working as part of a legal team that incorporates non-attorney advocates
- Desire to learn from our clients and their experiences
- Strong oral and written advocacy skills
- Ability to track and manage the demands of multiple cases/clients simultaneously
- Demonstrated success as a team player, but able to work independently
- Willingness to creatively problem-solve
- Ability to work at an organization whose mission is not solely focused on criminal defense
- Active listening skills
- Computer proficiency
- Able to pass a background check for working with youth and vulnerable adults
Preferred qualifications
- Prior course work, work experience, or clinical experience in immigration and/or criminal law
- Experience working with low-income people, immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ people, and people with other marginalized identities
- Experience identifying both legal and non-legal needs and issues facing our diverse clientele
- Ability to integrate their personal interests in other social justice or civil rights issues into their daily criminal defense work
- Experience conducting client intake interviews (or some equivalent)
- Secondary language skills (especially an ability to communicate in Spanish, Somali and/or Oromo)
- Previous experience working in a public defender office or nonprofit legal office
- Prior experience working within a holistic or client-centered framework
- Past experience working with youth and/or vulnerable adults
- Willingness to use own vehicle for travel to suburban courts (mileage and parking reimbursed)
LRC internships are competitive positions. We accept a maximum of four legal interns during the summer (June-August) and a maximum of two legal interns during the fall (September-December) and spring (January-May) semesters. Fall and spring internships are unpaid, but we encourage candidates to apply for credit from their law schools. Summer interns may receive a stipend of up to $3,000, unless the candidate can obtain funding through other sources. LRC is committed to work with candidates to secure funding
- Cover letter explaining their interest in the position and their qualifications
- Current resume
- Most recent transcript
- Writing sample (no longer than ten pages) with a cover page explaining the assignment and/or context in which the sample was created