Law Student Intern

City of New Haven • New Haven, CT

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

This is an excellent opportunity for current law students to intern/extern in a mid-sized-city municipal environment. Interns are given broad exposure to a variety of issues, including but not limited to: Municipal Law; Housing; Zoning; Municipal Finance; Employment Law; Labor Law; Environmental Law; Government Contracts; and Litigation. The Office of The Corporation Counsel (“OCC”) is the chief legal advisor to, and the attorney for, the City and all City officers, boards, commissions, and departments in matters relating to their official duties. The Corporation Counsel is responsible for rendering advice and legal opinions to City officials; and advising and representing departments, boards, commissions, officers, and officials on legal matters within their respective jurisdictions, including court cases, transactions, and administrative hearings before state agencies. The OCC is organized into four (4) sections: Transactional and Policy Practice Group, Litigation Group, Real Estate & Commercial Practice Group, and Employment Practice Group. It is also responsible for the Labor Relations Division of the City of New Haven. All sections are located at 165 Church Street, 4th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510, and remote work option is available.

Requirements

• Must be enrolled in an accredited College/University law school program.
• Knowledge of principles and procedures of civil law especially as they relate to municipal government; and the ability to apply this knowledge to varied legal issues.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods, and practices of legal research.
• Knowledge of judicial and administrative procedures, and the rules of evidence.
• Knowledge of constitutional provisions, laws, regulations, and ordinances affecting municipal operations.
• Knowledge of municipal government structures, and operations of Boards and Commissions, and their relationship to other public jurisdictions.
• Software skills, including use of Microsoft Office software and web-based applications.
• Verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of management.
• Time management, organizational and multi-tasking skills necessary to work in a fast-paced environment, handling various tasks and changing priorities, while maintaining a high attention to detail and accuracy to achieve daily assignments and goals.
• Ability to analyze, review, and make recommendations.
• Resume
• Writing Sample
• Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)

Nice To Haves

• First year (or, second year part-time) law students.
• Experience in municipal law is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Negotiates, drafts, and reviews all City contracts as to form and correctness, including memoranda of agreement with third parties and memoranda of understanding among governmental entities.
• Works on all matters relating to land use, acquisition, contract, and zoning law.
• Advises the City with respect to policy development and drafting procedures.
• Advises and train City officials, departments, boards, and commissions with respect to compliance with applicable law and regulations.
• Represents City officials, departments, boards, and commissions at administrative hearings before the Freedom of Information Commission.
• Civil litigation before federal and state courts; administrative litigation before the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities; and the Freedom of Information Commission: Areas of practice include personal injury, wrongful death, civil rights (including excessive force and false arrest), education law, constitutional law, tax appeals, foreclosures, real property, zoning, landlord/tenant, commercial law, employment law, civil service disputes, worker’s compensation, and environmental law.
• Work on projects overseen by the Economic Development Administration and the Livable City Initiative, including: Real estate acquisition and disposition, commercial loans, small business loans, home loans, façade grants, real estate closings, releases, liens, tax collections and related matters.
• Negotiates and drafts documentation for complex City development projects.
• Collaborates with the Department of Labor Relations and Department of Human Resources on employee-related matters such as workers’ compensation claims and complaints before the Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities.
• Assisting attorneys in working with city officials, departments, boards, and commissions, in all areas of municipal law.
• Exercise independent, professional judgement in the performance of work.
• Learn basic principles of file management.
• Practice in all areas of municipal law as outlined above under the supervision of an attorney.
• Appears with attorneys at administrative hearings, court proceedings, witness depositions, pretrials, and trials.
• Perform legal research and draft legal memoranda as requested.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, appeals and memoranda for filing in the appropriate court.
• Participate with attorneys in all aspects of litigation process, including drafting discovery requests, assisting with preparation of depositions, and attending pretrial/settlement conferences.
• Work closely with attorneys to advise client officials, departments, boards, commissions on legal issues within their jurisdiction, pursue civil enforcement actions, and defend the City before administration agencies.
• Applies legal principles and procedures of municipal law, constitutional law, employment law, and real property law to a wide variety of legal issues affecting the operation of a municipality.
• Perform other related work as requested.
• Receive mentoring including attending depositions, court appearances and trials/hearings.
• Interact with stakeholders and clients as appropriate.
• Receive substantive feedback on assignments.

Benefits

• Unpaid positions
• Accepted applicants may arrange externships with their schools for course credit for their work.
• Not eligible to receive medical benefits, vacation pay, holiday, union membership, or union contractual benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level