Summer 2027 Internships for Law Students

Summer 2027 Internships at Pine Tree Legal Assistance

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is a statewide, non-profit organization committed to providing high quality, free, civil legal assistance to people in Maine. Pine Tree advocates to help Maine’s most vulnerable residents overcome pressing problems of everyday life – domestic and sexual violence, homelessness, economic insecurity, financial exploitation, and more. Pine Tree is committed to access to justice for all Mainers, maintaining six offices throughout the state.

Summer internships at Pine Tree provide an opportunity for law students to work on a wide range of civil legal issues facing low-income Mainers. Students will work with attorneys and advocates to respond to the immediate needs of individual clients. Student responsibilities often include client intake, client communication, fact development, legal research, memo and brief drafting, litigation preparation, and other case work. Students will have the opportunity to observe staff in court proceedings, and students who have completed their 2nd year of law school may have the opportunity to appear in court on behalf of clients. Students will work under the supervision of experienced attorneys based in one of Pine Tree’s offices. Internships will be in person with the possibility of some remote work.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance is committed to creating an inclusive environment for staff and volunteers. We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including women, Black, indigenous, and people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, immigrants, and people who have experienced poverty or homelessness.

This is an unpaid, full-time, 10-week (375 hour) summer internship.

Legal Units Supporting Interns in Summer 2027:

Basic Unit – housing, eviction defense, public benefits, and consumer debt (Portland position for 2Ls/rising 3Ls only)

Family Law and Victims’ Rights Unit – civil legal services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence

Consumer Unit – foreclosure, student loan, auto fraud, credit card debt, and other consumer issues

Kids Legal – student representation in educational programming and school exclusion cases

Indigenous Peoples Unit – outreach and civil legal services for Indigenous people

Internship Locations:

Augusta (Basic, Family, Consumer)

Bangor (Basic, Family, Indigenous Peoples Unit)

Lewiston (Basic, Family)

Portland (Basic for 2Ls/rising 3Ls only, Consumer)

Presque Isle (Basic, Family)

Remote/Flexible (Kids Legal)

To Apply:

Applicants for Summer 2027 Internship positions should submit a cover letter (including their preferred units and locations), resume, and brief writing sample (maximum 10 pages) addressed to Shannon Karam, Esq. (she/her), Director of Pro Bono Services, Pine Tree Legal Assistance, 88 Federal Street, Portland, ME 04101, [email protected]. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through January 19, 2027, or until the positions are filled.