Summer Law Student Internship 2026

Vermont Legal Aid is seeking law student interns for our 10-week, full-time Summer Internship Program expected to begin late May or early June. The start date and hours can be flexible depending on applicant and program availability. The internships may be a hybrid of remote and in-person time. 

Vermont Legal Aid offers students the opportunity to work on a variety of individual or systemic cases through research projects, policy review and analysis, and attorney support on cases and other advocacy efforts.  VLA works in several different Projects, you can find more information about the work of those Projects here: https://www.vtlegalaid.org/our-projects In many Projects, interns will work on individual cases with their supervising attorney, interview clients, conduct merit reviews, complete legal research, and provide advice and advocacy support. For qualified interns (rising 2Ls, and rising 3Ls who have satisfactorily completed a course in evidence), depending on the supervising attorney’s caseload, opportunities may exist to appear in a court or administrative proceeding.   

Training & Mentorship 

Vermont Legal Aid’s Internship Program includes substantive law training meant to expose students to substantive aspects of poverty law including eviction defense and housing issues, access to health care, and public benefits. Interns will also receive training in client interviewing, legal research and writing, and trauma-informed lawyering.  

Interns will be placed with a supervising attorney who will help guide the intern’s work throughout the summer. Interns will have the opportunity to work with other legal advocates in their office as well. Applicants should indicate if they have a particular interest in one of our projects or areas of law.  

Funding & Credit 

This internship program is unpaid. We will work with you to fulfill any requirements necessary to allow access to work-study, public interest, or Equal Justice AmeriCorps funding. We can also assist students offered positions with pursuing externship credit in lieu of summer funding.  

Application & Selection Process 

Students may apply directly using the information below. We will interview candidates on a rolling basis through late February 2026 and make decisions shortly thereafter.  

To apply directly, please e-mail a cover letter including office preference (Burlington, Montpelier, Rutland, or Springfield), resume, unofficial law school transcript, and at least 2 references to hiring@vtlegalaid.org on or before Friday, February 20th with the subject line 2026 Summer Internship Program.  

Vermont Legal Aid is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences to apply, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, veterans, individuals with lived experience in the legal systems we engage with, and members of other historically excluded communities.