Investigative Intern – Fall 2026

The Legal Aid Society's Criminal Defense Investigative Services Unit has unpaid part-time internship opportunities for the Fall 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 Fall 2026 Investigator Internship Program begins on September 14, 2026 and runs until December 3, 2026. The internship is an unpaid, part-time, in-person, intensive, and hands-on program. No remote or weekend 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 following trial offices: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.  

 

Applicants should indicate their preferred trial office assignments 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. 

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/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 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Enrolled in an accredited educational institution pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in good standing 
• Ability to attend mandatory training courses and participate in the program from September 14, 2026 to December 3, 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 

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS 

Please submit these documents as a single combined PDF when you apply via career portal. 

• Cover Letter 
• Resume 

 

SALARY TRANSPARENCY 
As an intern position, this role has no salary. 
 

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online. We do not accept emailed submissions.  

• In your cover letter, indicate your preferred location(s) and/or unit(s) in order of preference. 
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible. 
• Interviews will be conducted throughout the summer. Selected candidates will be contacted via email to schedule a virtual interview. 
• Due to the high volume of applications and the competitive selection process, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 
• Offers will be extended on a rolling basis as hiring decisions are made. 

 

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org  

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 

The leadership of The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients, to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us. 

 

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.