Law Student Union Summer (LSUS) is a unique and exciting 10-week internship for law students that combines front-line, labor-related public interest legal work with grassroots organizing in ongoing campaigns by AFL-CIO-affiliated unions throughout the country.
In addition to legal research and writing, LSUS interns are involved in community outreach, member mobilization, corporate and other non-legal research, legislative campaigns and general litigation.
Responsibilities may include interviewing workers and drafting memoranda with factual and legal analysis in connection with presenting evidence to the National Labor Relations Board in unfair labor practice investigations and administrative hearings or to similar state public sector agencies. Labor-related public interest work may be performed in connection with issues that may arise during organizing or contract campaigns, such as: wage and hour violations, discrimination claims, immigration issues, environmental regulatory actions, whistle-blower protections and/or others. Organizing activities, including canvassing, planning and implementing solidarity-building activities and participating in meetings and home visits, are another primary component of the program. Travel may be required; work will vary from placement to placement; students may be based in an organizing office, local union, national union headquarters or law firm.
Interns work on site, at locations throughout the country (not in Washington, D.C.). The weekly stipend is $600 and transportation and housing are provided. Interns are supervised by attorneys and union organizers. The program starts May 26, 2015, and runs through July 31, 2015.
Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in the practice of labor-related public interest law and may be first or second year students; students who have taken one or more labor law courses and who have experience in organizing and/or community activism are preferred. (See eligibility requirements.)
Submit a Law Student Union Summer application , with a cover letter (see application for requirements), résumé, writing sample, law school transcript (may be unofficial) and current contact information for three references (preferably a combination of academic and/or work/internship-related). Send your application materials to AFL-CIO Law Student Union Summer:
Submit an Application, preferably via e-mail:
E-Mail: Lsus@aflcio.org;
Fax: 202-637-5323
Phone: 202-637-5385
Mail: AFL-CIO Law Student Union Summer
815 16th St., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006
Application deadline: Oct. 17, 2014, for 2Ls; Jan. 16, 2015, for 1Ls.