Legal Internship

About Fair Share Housing Center:

Fair Share Housing Center (FSHC) is a nonprofit advocacy organization that uses litigation and  policy strategies to dismantle decades of racial and economic discrimination in New Jersey and nationally that excludes people from the opportunity to live in safe, healthy, and affordable housing. 

Fair Share Housing Center’s work has created over 70,000 homes affordable to lower-income  families in communities that otherwise would have excluded them, with 50,000 more anticipated  over the next decade. FSHC has shaped both state and national policy on racial justice and fair  housing, including through the largest settlement in the 50-year history of the federal Fair Housing Act in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. And the organization also led the charge to pass the Fair  Chance in Housing Act—the first statewide bill of its kind in the country that protects individuals  with prior criminal legal involvement from discrimination in the rental market. More broadly, FSHC works closely with partner organizations in New Jersey and nationally to advance racial, economic, and social justice issues that impact low-income communities and communities of color.

Internship Overview:

Fair Share Housing Center hosts legal interns throughout the year. Interns gain extensive experience in legal research, writing, and policy development in a closely supervised environment. Past interns have worked with attorneys to investigate municipal compliance with fair housing laws, researched opportunities for development of mixed-income developments near transit, drafted court documents including briefs for the state Appellate Division and Supreme Court. Interested interns also may have the opportunity to work on projects that integrate legal work with community organizing and/or housing development with Fair Share’s partner organizations.  

Responsibilities: 

• Drafting memoranda, complaints, and other court filings 
• Reviewing legal documents 
• Conducting legal and policy research 
• Researching and drafting materials for public education 
• Other projects as assigned 

Time Commitment: 

• Summer interns are expected to make a full-time commitment and work 35 hours per week for at least a 10-week period 
• Fall and Winter interns are expected to commit to a part-time schedule of 15 to 25 hours per week for a 12-week period 

Qualifications:  

The internship is open to students enrolled at U.S. law schools who will have completed at least one year of law school before the internship commences. Preference is given to rising third year law students. Interns should possess the following: 

• Excellent research skills, including conducting internet and legal database research

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writing 
• Attention to detail, excellent organizing and time-management skills 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 
• The initiative to see projects through to completion 
• A commitment to racial and economic justice 
• Some background in the land use or housing field is preferred, ideally including course work in land use, civil rights law, and/or administrative law. 

Stipend: 

A stipend is available for those students who do not receive course credit. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of Fair Share’s stipend amount for that term, if applicable. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit. 

Location: 

This is a hybrid in-person and remote position. The individual will be required to attend some in-person meetings at or near Fair Share Housing Center’s offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey or around the state. 

How to Apply:

FSHC is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation and/or identity, criminal record, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

In their cover letter, applicants should describe their interest in affordable housing and racial/economic justice, including any relevant life or work experience gained before or during law school. Please specify the term (Summer, Fall, Spring) you are applying for in your cover letter. 

Application Timeline: 

• Summer: Selections for Summer internships will begin in February and will occur on a rolling basis. If you are interested in a Summer internship you should apply by the end of January.
• Fall and Spring: Selections for Fall and Spring internships will be reviewed on a rolling basis, beginning approximately 2-3 months before the internship would start.

We  recommend applying by June for a Fall internship set to start in September, and by November for a Spring internship set to start in January.

Interested applicants should apply online at https://fairsharehousing.bamboohr.com/careers.