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Internship Opportunity: Center for Public Representation, Disability Litigation and Policy

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is listed for reference only. The deadline to apply has passed.

This is an unpaid internship opportunity from outside the Rockefeller Center.

Position Type: Internship - unpaid

Location: Northampton, MA

Sector: Advocacy

Start Date: Summer 2020

Wage or benefits: Unpaid

CPR provides a modest stipend for its internships and encourages students to also pursue outside funding if available.

Time Commitment: Up to 40 hours per week for Summer 2020

Desired Class Year: Open to law students

Desired Major or Interest: Experience in any of the following areas: civil rights, disability, healthcare policy, social justice advocacy, and legislation

Application Deadline: November 17, 2019

Organization website: https://centerforpublicrep.org/

Brief Description of the organization:

CPR engages in groundbreaking class action litigation across the country on behalf of people segregated in residential, employment, and educational settings, as well as people at risk of segregation due to the lack of access to critical community supports and healthcare services. CPR is actively litigating, or monitoring implementation of federal court judgments and settlement agreements in eight states, and will be developing a set of new legal initiatives in 2019 and 2020. CPR also works on national disability public policy issues out of our office in Washington, D.C. CPR operates a MA-based virtual training and technical assistance center on Supported Decision-Making, and is currently spearheading legislation in Massachusetts to expand the use of Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship. CPR provides technical assistance to a national network of disability organizations, Massachusetts legal service programs, and other public interest organizations.

Brief Description of the Intern's role or key qualifications:

CPR is seeking at least one talented law student who is committed to social justice and interested in advancing the rights of people with disabilities. Depending on your interests and experience, you may:

  • Assist with ongoing class-action litigation, including preparing legal memoranda, participating in strategy meetings, assisting with drafting briefs, and reviewing documents
  • Support the monitoring and enforcement of court ordered settlement agreements
  • Participate in the development of new litigation, including researching legal theories, investigating factual claims, identifying potential partners, and interviewing stakeholders
  • Assist with policy and legal-related communications, including creating content on legal issues for websites and client/community outreach materials
  • Provide direct client counseling to individuals using Supported Decision-Making, and advocate to advance legislative initiatives on Supported Decision-Making
  • Participate in coalition meetings and meetings with advocacy partners
  • Research and draft national technical assistance materials

Desired Skills and Interests:

  • Experience in any of the following areas: civil rights, disability, healthcare policy, social justice advocacy, and legislation
  • Ability to work independently and within a team
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects with supervision Excellent writing and legal research skills
  • Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Demonstrated commitment to people with disabilities or other marginalized groups

At least one student will work in CPR's main office, located at 22 Green Street, Northampton, MA 01060, or its office at 246 Walnut Street, Suite 202, Newton, Massachusetts 02460.

How to apply:

Please send a cover letter describing yourself and your interest in working with CPR, as well as a resume and writing sample of ten or fewer pages to Pam Long at plong@cpr-ma.org.

See https://www.idealist.org/en/amp/nonprofit-internship/822c2a8f24404606992b787f45527990-summer-intern-disability-litigation-and-policy-center-for-public-representation-northampton?utm_campaign=google_jobs_apply&utm_source=google_jobs_apply&utm_medium=organic

for more details.

This is an unpaid internship from outside the Rockefeller Center. Such opportunities are posted in an effort to help students find a leave-term internship experience in public policy or a social sciences related area. Such postings do not constitute an endorsement by the Center of the political objectives of any one person or organization.