Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic offers trauma-informed legal services and representation, counselling and multilingual interpretation, and drives system transformation to support women and gender diverse people who have experienced violence. Rooted in the foundations of intersectionality, innovation, and a client-centered approach, we foster the skills and resilience of the people we serve and amplify their voices to create individual and collective change.
The Legal Summer Student Program
The Schlifer Clinic’s Legal Department is currently accepting applications for our 2024 Summer Student Program. Every summer, we host summer students:
-
- through externally funded internships/fellowships;
- for pre-arranged course credit; or
- as volunteers.
The Clinic does not have any internal funding for these summer student positions.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Students should have some legal training, work experience or education in one or more areas of law practiced by the Clinic, including family, immigration and sexual assault law. All students are expected to be aware of and to abide by the Schlifer Clinic’s Mission and Value Statements. As part of their summer placement at the Clinic, selected students may be asked to assist with Intake, Family Court Support, Legal Administration and/or staff lawyers’ work. Specific assignments, projects, and work arrangements will be discussed between the student and supervisor.
STUDENTS APPLYING FOR EXTERNAL FELLOWSHIPS/INTERNSHIPS
Applications for summer student positions funded through external fellowships/internships will be accepted until January 26, 2024 at 1:00 p.m..
Selected students will be contacted by February 19, 2023 to discuss and finalize their applications and will be provided letters of support as required. If a request has to be expedited to meet a funding deadline, please contact: Natalia Simoes at [email protected] (No telephone calls please.)
STUDENTS APPLYING FOR COURSE CREDIT OR AS VOLUNTEERS
Applications for summer student volunteers or course credit positions will be accepted on an ongoing basis, depending on the needs and capacity of the Clinic. There is no application deadline for these positions.
Selected students will be contacted in the spring to discuss available opportunities.
Please note: if you are applying for a funded position, and also wish to be considered for a volunteer/course credit position if you do not receive funding, please advise us that you are interested in both a funded and volunteer work option.
To apply:
Please provide the following information:
-
- Resume;
- A short Statement of Interest outlining:
- your interest and/or experience in social justice and/or gender-based rights and/or gender-based violence;
- your interest and/or experience in any of the areas of law practiced by the Clinic, and the area(s) of law you are interested to work in during your placement;
- type of work in which you are interested (e.g. client file work, project-based work, advocacy, any proposed projects).
- Your availability and the time commitment you are able to make;
- (if applicable) Summary of the Fellowship/Internship/course credit for which you are applying and any deadlines.
Remember to tell us if you are interested in a position only if you receive funding, only in volunteer/course credit work, or both. This helps us plan for the number of students we are able to accept.
Please email the above information to [email protected]. Put “Legal Summer Student” in the subject line.
No telephone calls please.
Please note: We rely on students in our summer legal program for assistance with the Clinic’s work. We ask that you confirm with us as soon as possible whether you will be accepting or declining an offered position with us. We do our best to place all accepted summer students. However, sometimes, we are simply not able to do so. We will let you know as soon as possible if this is the case.