Internships

Summer Internship for J.D. Students

The Tenants Advocacy Program (TAP) is offering an exciting full-time, eight-week summer internship for J.D. students interested in housing justice. Interns will join an innovative eviction defense project in Rochester Housing Court.

As student-attorneys, interns will:

Interview clients
Gather facts and conduct legal research
Draft pleadings and motion papers
Appear in court through a student practice order

This internship is made possible through the support of Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY) and other legal aid organizations in Rochester.

(from left) Student-attorneys Brandon McMurtray, Aditi Hukerikar, Beril Karakoyun, and Miraya Borah appear in Rochester Housing Court, supervised by Professor Kathryn Krause Wozer.
(from left) Student-attorney Brandon McMurtray and Professor Kathryn Krause Wozer discussing a case in the courthouse lobby.
(from left) Professor Kathryn Krause Wozer and student-attorney Miraya Borah inside the Housing courtroom at Rochester City Court.
(from left) Aditi Hukerikar, Professor Kathryn Krause Wozer, Miraya Borah, and Beril Karakoyun discussing settlement negotiations and other case strategy in the courthouse lobby.
(from left) Samuel Clukey, Professor Kathryn Krause Wozer, and Led Klosky at Rochester Housing Court.

Internship Details

Format: Hybrid (remote work with weekly in-person court appearances in Rochester, NY)
Duration: 8 weeks (June 1 – July 24, 2026)
Pay: $25/hour + travel reimbursements
Additional Funding: Eligible for up to $5,000 in Equal Justice America (EJA) summer fellowship grant. Public Interest Fellowship (PIF) funding also available; please contact Career Services for more details.
Fall Option: Continue part-time as a 4–6 credit extern

“I’ve found that even a short call or a single court appearance can shift the course of someone’s housing situation. It’s in those small, often unseen moments that the real impact of legal aid becomes clear!”

Miraya Borah

Summer '25 Intern

Requirements

Must be a current J.D. student at Cornell Law School
Must have access to transportation for court appearances
Must be available for in-person appearances at 2pm on Mondays or Tuesdays (some flexibility possible)

How to Apply

Please email your resume and a short statement of interest to tenantsadvocacy@cornell.edu with the subject line “Summer 2026 Internship”. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2026.

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