About the role
Organization Overview
Colorado Legal Services (CLS) is Colorado’s statewide nonprofit legal aid program, with thirteen offices providing civil legal
assistance
to low-income Coloradans throughout the state. CLS provides free legal
assistance
in a broad variety of legal areas, including family law, public benefits, eviction defense, consumer protection, services to survivors of serious crime and human trafficking, and many others.
CLS has strengthened lives, assisted families, and supported communities–one person at a time for over 100 years. We are committed to providing high-quality, free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals throughout Colorado. We have a long history of successful impact and advocacy. CLS strives to bring about substantive, transformational change in the lives of those we serve.
We value representation.
At CLS, we value and respect our staff's wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We ensure representation of our client communities in our staff, Board of
Directors
and leadership teams. We also envision a fair,
just,
trusted, and harm reductionist legal system which emphasizes access to and implementation of true justice for every Coloradan.
Position Summary
The Alamosa office of Colorado Legal Services provides client-centered and trauma-informed advice and representation to low-income people in a variety of legal areas impacting basic personal needs in a resource-disadvantaged community. These areas include housing, consumer, family, and public benefits law. The Alamosa office of Colorado Legal Services proudly serves the six counties of the San Luis Valley, providing excellent legal assistance , advice, and in-court representation to the most vulnerable people of this proud community.
S
tudent interns in the CLS Alamosa office begin working with clients on the very first day and can expect to feel essential to our office staff. Individual duties will be assigned based on experience level, but all interns work together with the CLS Alamosa team to complete applicant interviews, research case histories, draft pleadings, and
help staff prepare for
hearings before courts or administrative agencies. Interns in the Alamosa office will have the unique opportunity to get hands-on exposure in a wide
variety of civil practice areas in the San Luis Valley. In addition to client-centered experiences, CLS Alamosa interns
participate
in community outreach activities to learn more about the needs of our clients against the backdrop of day-to-day life as part of our income-eligible community.
Essential Duties
- D raft letters and simple motions for review
- A ssist with hearing preparation, memos, legal research, client communication, and case management
- Participate in and conduct client interviews and assist the staff with identifying legal issues in our clients’ cases
- If appropriate , advocate in court under the Law Student Practice requirements
Required Qualifications
- S trong commitment to legal issues affecting low-income individuals
- S trong interest in research, writing and interviewing
- Candidate should be confident and able to work both independently and as part of a team
Preferred Qualifications
Spanish-speaking ability
Location
This position is housed in the Alamosa office.
Time commitment
Part -time , minimum of 10 hours per week preferred.
Compensation
The position is unpaid but is open to receiving other work study funds that are
student generated
. Students may apply for course credit through their Externship Program.
How to Apply
:
Please submit your resume and cover letter via the “Apply for This Job” link for this job opening on our careers page . We will not be reviewing applications sent via e-mail or physical mail. If you have questions about this internship or any others at Colorado Legal Services, please contact Kirsten Hoaby, Denver Volunteer and Pro Bono Manager, at khoaby@colegalserv.org