Legal Intern, Housing Justice- Tenant Rights

SeniorLAW Center; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

The SeniorLAW Center is offering a part-time Legal Intern position in Housing Justice - Tenant Rights based in Philadelphia, PA. The role provides direct client advocacy experience in municipal and court settings, with supervision and a small caseload.

Ideal candidates are third-year law students, with strong writing and communication skills, a commitment to public interest, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, inclusive office environment. 15–20 hours weekly, $22 per hour.

Qualifications

• Intake and client interviews (in person and by telephone)
• A small individual caseload with supervision
• Assist legal staff with more complex litigation and cases
• Help develop community education materials
• Help conduct outreach workshops and attend community events
• Conduct legal research, writing, and drafting
• Participate in systemic advocacy efforts
• Handle other office tasks and special projects, as needed

Responsibilities

• Intake and client interviews (in person and by telephone)
• A small individual caseload with supervision
• Assist legal staff with more complex litigation and cases
• Help develop community education materials
• Help conduct outreach workshops and attend community events
• Conduct legal research, writing, and drafting
• Participate in systemic advocacy efforts
• Handle other office tasks and special projects, as needed

Job description

Background:

Founded in 1978, SeniorLAW Center is a dynamic nonprofit public interest legal services organization whose mission is to seek justice for older people by using the power of the law, educating the community and advocating on local, state and national levels. We are the only non-profit agency in Pennsylvania wholly dedicated to providing legal assistance to older persons and protecting their legal rights, and one of few in the nation. SeniorLAW Center prioritizes services to older people who are low-income, cultural and racial minorities, the disabled, victims of crime and family violence, and those facing other vulnerabilities and challenges. We fight senior poverty, fraud and homelessness, provide protection from elder abuse and financial exploitation, enable grandparents to raise grandchildren, and improve access to justice. Join our team that promotes justice, in a supportive and flexible hybrid work environment.

The Opportunity:

The Housing Justice Team at SeniorLAW Center is excited to offer a 15 - 20 hour a week,paid internship opportunity to a Second or Third year law student for the Fall Semester, 2026. Legal Interns in this role will have a complete introduction to direct client advocacy in Philadelphia Municipal Court, the Court of Common Pleas, the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission and the Philadelphia Eviction Diversion Program. In this role, Legal Interns can expect to be involved in:

• Intake and client interviews (in person and by telephone)
• A small individual caseload with supervision
• Assist legal staff with more complex litigation and cases
• Help develop community education materials
• Help conduct outreach workshops and attend community events
• Conduct legal research, writing, and drafting
• Participate in systemic advocacy efforts
• Handle other office tasks and special projects, as needed

Third-year law students are preferred,but second-year students with exemplary direct public interest experience or other legal or relevant work or volunteer experience will be considered. The ideal candidate will also have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, the ability to work under pressure, and superior writing and communication skills. Relevant experience in a legal program or law office preferred. Interest in and ability to work with older people and sensitivity to older people of different backgrounds required. Demonstrated commitment to public interest preferred. Bilingual capabilities a plus.

Work Conditions:

• This job operates in a professional office environment.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to ten pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

SeniorLAW Center is an equal opportunity employer and values fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace in all aspects of our work. SeniorLAW Center prohibits discrimination based on age, race, national origin, color, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, sex, gender identity, familial status, or any other basis prohibited by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Position:

Legal Intern, Housing Justice- Tenant Rights

Location:

Philadelphia, PA

Reports to:

Director, Housing Justice

Direct Reports:

No

Project:

Housing Justice-Tenant Rights

Hours of Work:

15-20 hours per week- Days of week flexible

Compensation:

$22.00 per hour

Work setting:

In Person

Classification:

Non-Exempt

Travel:

As needed