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. Current J.D. students can volunteer as paid interns to join an innovative eviction defense initiative in Rochester Housing Court, working directly with tenants facing housing instability and displacement. This position offers hands-on litigation experience, direct client interaction, and meaningful public interest legal work under attorney supervision.

As student-attorneys, interns will:

Conduct client interviews and develop case strategy

Gather facts, review records, and conduct legal research
Draft pleadings, motions, affidavits, orders to show cause, and other litigation documents
Negotiate with opposing counsel and assist with settlement discussions
Prepare cases for hearings and trial, including evidence organization, witness preparation, and litigation strategy
Appear in Rochester Housing Court on behalf of clients, under attorney supervision, through a student practice order
Work directly with court staff to facilitate settlements, obtain court records, monitor case developments, and manage litigation filings and documentation
Communicate with relevant city and county agencies as well as community organizations to gather information, coordinate support services, and advocate for clients
Support supervising attorneys and legal aid partners on other active eviction defense litigation as needed

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 (unpaid option available)
Additional Funding: Eligible for up to $5,000 in Equal Justice America (EJA) summer fellowship grant. Public Interest Fellowship (PIF) funding available for unpaid interns; please contact Career Services for more details.
Fall Option: Continue part-time as a 4–6 credit extern

* Students receiving external law firm funding in addition to this summer internship are not eligible for the paid role, and can only continue the summer internship on an unpaid basis.

“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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