Summer Interships

The Summer Internship Program provides opportunities for first and second year Loyola Law students, to work as interns in Legal Services Offices in Louisiana and throughout the United States. Notices are posted in the spring calling for interested students to submit resumes for consideration for a position in one of the Legal Services Offices participating in the program. Once all resumes have been collected, the Poverty Law Center hosts a reception and information session where students meet with representatives of participating Legal Services Offices. In the weeks following the reception, students are interviewed and job offers are extended. The internships are for a period of ten weeks during the summer. Stipends are provided to students by the Poverty Law Center and the chosen field office.

About the Summer Internship Program

The summer program provides opportunities for first-and second-year Loyola students to primarily work for any Pro Bono office which is funded by the Legal Services Corporation. Funding for the Gillis Long program is provided by the Legal Services Corporation, and we must adhere to their guidelines. The Center pays the salaries for students who make a commitment to work for ten weeks during the summer assisting staff attorneys in these offices. In recent years, a limited number of out-of-state students have been given an opportunity to return home for the summer to also work in a legal services office. Students receive training beyond their law school course work, and legal services staff attorneys are freed to focus on critical issues. The following are a few of the offices which have been approved for participation in the program:

  • Acadiana Legal Services (Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles) 
  • Capital Area Legal Services (Houma, Donaldsonville, Gonzales, Baton Rouge) 
  • North Louisiana Legal Services (Monroe, Shreveport, Natchitoches) 
  • Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (New Orleans, Marrero, Hammond, Covington) 
  • Southwest Louisiana Legal Services (Lake Charles) 
  • The Pro Bono Project (New Orleans)

Students who wish to participate in the program must submit a resume to the Gillis Long Office, which is then forwarded to the participating offices. Students may not seek a summer position without the approval of the Gillis Long Associate Director. This ensures a fair process for all interested students. Depending on available funds, the Gillis Long office will determine the number of students to be placed. 

  • Once a student is selected for an internship, the student MAY NOT begin work until the required paperwork is finalized. To do so may result in a delay of the stipend. A contract is required for the 10 week program before any work may begin. Please be aware that the contract is binding and we ask that you do not sign the contract if you feel you will not be able to fulfill the ten week commitment.
  • Checks are made payable to the participating office which is then responsible for payment of the stipend.
  • Individual payroll offices will determine the amount of taxes to be withheld. 
  • A normal work week is a minimum of 37.5 hours. However, it is your responsibility to arrange your schedule with your supervisor. 
  • Anyone wanting an out of state internship should schedule an appointment to speak with Barbara J. Wilson, bjwilso1@loyno.edu or (504) 861-5762.