Investigative Intern, Summer 2026

The Legal Aid Society•New York, NY

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Investigative Services Unit has unpaid internship opportunities for the Summer 2026 term. The Legal Aid Society is built upon one simple but powerful belief that no New Yorker should be denied the right to equal justice. As the largest, primary, and oldest public defender in New York City, The Legal Aid Society strives to deliver justice in every borough while working tirelessly to improve our city. We work to protect the rights of the marginalized and disenfranchised in our society. We have a unique opportunity for those who believe in our mission. The Summer 2026 Investigator Internship Program begins on May 28, 2026, and runs until August 6, 2026. The internship is an unpaid, full-time, in-person, intensive, hands-on program. No remote investigative positions are available. Interns carry their own caseloads and partner up with other interns for field investigations throughout New York City. The internship begins with mandatory training in Criminal Defenses, Interviewing Techniques, Constitutional Law, Ethics for Investigations, Memorializing Interviews, Social Media Research, Discovery Reform, Investigative Techniques, and more. These positions require considerable initiative, resourcefulness, creativity, drive, and a strong commitment to criminal defense work. We have internship spots available in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island Trial Offices, the Homicide Defense Task Force Unit (HDTF), the Wrongful Conviction Unit (WCU), and the Parole Revocation Defense Unit (PRDU). Applicants should indicate their preferred trial office or Specialized Unit in their cover letter. While we will make every effort to honor these preferences, placements will ultimately be determined based on organizational needs and available capacity.

Requirements

Enrolled in an accredited educational institution pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in good standing
Ability to attend mandatory training courses between May 28 – June 5, 2026
Commitment to racially and socioeconomically oppressed communities
Ability to work collegially and collaboratively with all members of the staff
Strong writing, research, computer technology, social media, and communication skills required
Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines and to think critically

Responsibilities

Locate and interview complainants, witnesses, defendants, and other relevant parties
Investigate crime scenes and other relevant locations
Document scenes (via photographs, video recording, diagrams, or measurements)
Create crime scene sketches/diagrams/maps
Prepare written summaries of investigation results via our case management system
Conduct background checks, internet research, and social media investigations
Accompany defense players to crime scenes and relevant locations and assist in their cases
Locate and secure surveillance footage from varying locations and buildings
Communicate daily with defense team
Provide accurate, detailed reports on investigations and support other necessary documents (e.g., chain of custody, witness statements, investigation summaries, etc.)
Travel within assigned borough as well as out-of-borough via mass transit
Communicate with other members of staff/team to effectively analyze and discuss cases
Review detailed and voluminous discovery
Locate clients and communicate with clients as needed
Serve subpoenas, motions, and other legal documents as needed