Fall 2017 Legal Aid Internships

Application Deadline: April 3, 2017
Desired Start Date: August 28, 2017
Mandatory Training: August 25, 2017, 1pm - 3:30 pm

Duration: Fall Semester 2017
Hours per Week: approximately 8 – 9

The Graduate Student Legal Aid Office (GLAO) at the University of Maryland College Park is looking for talented students for its Undergraduate Internship Program.  The GLAO provides free legal information, consultations, referrals and brief assistance to UMCP graduate students on a wide range of both off-campus and university matters.  Learn more about the GLAO at www.gradlegalaid.umd.edu.

Internship Summary:

Interns work on-site at the Graduate Student Legal Aid Office, located in the South Campus Dining Hall, approximately 8-9 hours a week.  They will garner a wide range of experiences in the following ways: 1.      Interns staff the front desk, which is the first point of contact for all visitors, student and potential clients.  Interns handle initial student screenings for eligibility, process intake forms and answer general inquiries.2.      Interns sit-in on client interviews conducted by the GLAO attorney.  Interns may be actively involved in casework through basic research and investigation needed to resolve client issues and concerns and helping clients identify and access outside resources. Please note that the GLAO does not represent students in court; this internship does not involve litigation work.   3.      Interns also work with the GLAO’s Coordinator of Services and Programs on administrative and other tasks related to the day-to-day functioning of the office. 

Assignments:

Over the course of the semester the following tasks are assigned:1.      Attend one of the GLAO’s "Lunch & Learn" workshops that typically take place on Tuesdays from 12:30-1:30pm. Submit a 2-page report on this experience.2.      Attend two intern classes that meet on designated Tuesday afternoons from 4:00pm – 5:15pm in our office.3.      Attend one day, at least 2 hours, of court observation and submit a 2-page report on this experience.4.      Complete required reading assignments.5.      Complete a Legal Research Assignment that involves answering 10 questions that pertain to the Freedom of Speech.6.      Submit a final research paper, 8 – 10 pages in length.7.      Complete an internship evaluation before the final day of the internship.  The form will be provided by the GLAO.

EDCP 386 Course:

This internship provides 3-credit hours through the EDCP 386 course, which is part of the Undergraduate Experiential Learning Process, Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education (CHSE) Department. 

Students who wish to apply for and are selected for this internship must meet the following EDCP and GLAO requirements:-          You must have completed 56 credit hours by the time you begin the internship, 12 of which must have been at UMCP.-          You must be in good standing at the University, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred.-          You must be available to work between 8 – 9 hours per week during office hours. -          You must meet all other departmental requirements to enroll in EDCP 386.  Please review this information carefully so that you understand the CHSE requirements.  Do not fill out this form unless you have been selected for an internship.   If you are selected for the Internship, you will fill out the EDCP form and the GLAO will submit your paperwork to the CHSE department for approval.  The GLAO will provide the reading list and other information requested on the form.

Note: No “incompletes” are permitted.

- link to the application: https://go.umd.edu/legal_internship

- link to our website for more information: http://umddepartments.orgsync.com/org/gradlegalaid/Internships