Legal Counsel for the Elderly Intern (Spring 2027)

OATS; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly wage $21

Hybrid work environment

Spring 2027 internship

Job summary

AARP's Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) in Washington, D.C. offers a paid internship for law students to gain supervised experience in elder law under licensed attorneys. The role covers client interaction, research, and systemic advocacy within a supportive team.

Responsibilities include client interviews, community meetings, written work, discovery, motions, and court observing. The internship starts Spring 2027 and runs in a hybrid environment with US-only remote days.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in an accredited law school, rising 2L/3L at start.
• Interest in serving low-income seniors and sensitivity to elderly needs.

Responsibilities

• Interview current and prospective clients and meet them in the community.
• Conduct fact-finding investigations and draft correspondence.
• Perform legal research and writing, prepare discovery requests and motions.
• Aid in court case preparation and observe legal strategy in action.
• Document in case management systems and follow settlement negotiations.

Skills

Law student

Bilingual (not required)

Education

Enrolled in accredited law school

Job description

Overview

AARP’s Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE) champions the dignity and rights of vulnerable Washington, D.C. seniors 60-plus, providing free legal and social work services to those in need — empowering, defending, protecting, and helping thousands of clients each year in many areas of civil law.

Under the supervision of an experienced and licensed attorney, the LCE intern will be exposed to and participate in various legal functions related to law practice in an elder law setting for low-income older persons. Interns will complete the internship, gaining client interaction skills, subject area knowledge, and supervised experience in individual client representation and systemic advocacy.

Students interested in issues related to landlord-tenant, economic security, healthcare benefits, long-term care services, homeownership preservation, combatting fraud and financial abuse, and identifying solutions to systemic problems should apply. This paid internship will begin in Spring 2027 and may extend for an additional semester.

Responsibilities

The intern will engage in a variety of functions, typically including but not limited to the following:

• Interviewing current and prospective clients
• Meeting clients in the community (at home or in various facilities)
• Conducting fact-finding investigations
• Drafting correspondence
• Performing legal research and writing
• Preparing discovery requests
• Drafting motions
• Aiding in the preparation of court cases
• Observing the formulation and implementation of legal strategies
• Observing attorneys in court or in administrative proceedings
• Following settlement negotiations
• Documenting in computerized case management database

Qualifications

• Prospective intern must be currently enrolled in an accredited law school, classified as a rising 2L, 2L, rising 3L, or 3L at the start of the internship; have demonstrated interest in serving the needs of low income 60+ individuals and have a sensitivity to the needs of the elderly
• The ability to speak languages in addition to English is a plus but is not required

AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.

Additional Requirements

• Regular and reliable job attendance
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Exhibit respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships
• Independent judgement in evaluation options to make sound decisions
• In office/open office environment with the ability to work effectively surrounded by moderate noise

Compensation and Benefits

The hourly rate is $21. Internships are non-exempt positions and are not eligible for employee benefits.

Hybrid Work Environment

AARP observes Mondays and Fridays as remote workdays, except for essential functions. Remote work can only be done within the United States and its territories.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.