Student Legal Services grew out of the LegalAid movement of the 1960s and 70s and is thus focused on justice and advocacy. SLS helps students navigate their time at UVM and instills a deeper sense of self-advocacy and fairness that can stay with them as they become public citizens.
The Internship Experience
Are you frustrated with injustice? Do you want to learn more about the law? Are you interested in obtaining experience in the legal field? Do you want to learn more about your rights?
If you answered "yes" to any of these qestions, the internship program at UVM's Student Legal Services may be for you. Each year, 15-20 students staff the SLS program and work closely with real, practicing attorneys, acting as liaisons between the attorneys and student clients and help frame legal issues in ways that clients can easily understand. Interns relay legal advice, set up meetings, conduct legal research, accompany clients to court and judicial hearnings, and provide referral services.
The SLS internship program is an extraordinary opportunity for an undergraduate student. The chance to intern for practicing attorneys can be an invaluable experience, certainly for those considering law school, but also for those who haven't yet been exposed to the practice of law and are curious about it. It provides students with a worthwhile opportunity to learn more about their constitutional rights, civil liberties, and how our legal system works. Some of our interns do indeed pursue a legal career; many, however, choose not to, but take with them the multifaceted skills they acquired during this program.
Internship length: two consecutive semesters. Interns commit to a full-year term and are expected to enroll in credit during both Fall and Spring semesters. Interns are encouraged to continue their involvement with SLS for multiple years (either by re-enrolling in credit or in a volunteer capacity). The course is repeatable but counts as "internship credit" and is therefore bound by the internship credit maximums imposed by the intern's home College.
Credit: Academic credit for the SLS program is awarded via CAS 2920 H. Each student may receive 3 elective credits per semester for their participation. If the student wishes to count this course toward their major or minor, they may contact their department chairperson to obtain permission for a degree audit exception.
Hours: Interns will be expected to complete 6-8 hours per week, totalling 240 hours over the academic year. This aligns with CAS's Internship Credit Policy and will easily be achieved by completing all required coursework.
Course format
All students are required to attend weekly class meetings with the course instructor and consulting attorney(s) for lecture and “conference” re: cases.
Course activities will include summarizing cases, seeking advice to relay back to student clients, reflective activities, guest speakers, and instruction on best practices. The first three weeks/sessions will be a crash course in case & criminal law, confidentiality, forensic interviewing, and how to intake cases/interview clients. After this initial training, the instructor and TAs work with students to create schedules and expectations for hours for the rest of the year.
Intern tasks & responsibilities outside of class meetings
Interns will hold weekly “office hours” in which to meet with student clients seeking legal advice. At these meetings, interns will complete “intake interviews” to fully understand the issue at hand and start a case. Interns will also observe office hours held by the SLS consulting attorney(s) to observe real legal advice being given.
- It’s important to note that interns will not be legally representing student clients—they will only be relaying legal advice from licensed attorneys and/or observing legal advice being given.
- Interns are well trained to decline to give legal advice and will be well prepared to give referrals if the legal issue is outside the scope of what the attorneys can provide—i.e. no student v. student or Title IX cases. Most cases seen by the program are landlord-tenant or student conduct.
- Consulting attorney(s) will also hold office hours in which interns can seek advice/speak about cases individually if specified information needs to be relayed. Consulting attorney(s) will also be available via email and conduct research on cases as needed.
Application information
Interns apply in the spring semester of each academic year. Applications are reviewed and the best qualified candidates are invited for an interviw. The application process is quite selective. Interns will need strong interpersonal skills, and high aptitudes for both written and oral work are a plus. The program typically admits juniors and seniors though students of all years are invited to apply. No prior knowledge of the law is necessary.
Client Information (Do you need legal advice?)
Please note that the SLS program is CLOSED for the summer! Since we are a student-staffed program, we only run during the academic year.
The areas of law SLS specializes in include landlord/tenant matters, criminal law, civil law, consumer fraud, academic dishonesty, and the academic disciplinary process. We maintain a staff of 15-20 interns per semester. Legal advice is provided free of charge to all UVM students.
Policies on representation:
Interns are well trained to decline to give legal advice and are prepared to give referrals if the legal issue is outside the scope of what the attorneys can provide—i.e. no student v. student or Title IX cases. Most cases seen by the program are landlord-tenant or student conduct.
Since Student Legal Services represents all students equally, interns cannot assist in any cases involving a student with a claim against another student.
No interns are legally representing student clients—they are only relaying legal advice from licensed attorneys and/or observing legal advice being given. Interns offer consultations and assistance, however, SLS does not provide the same services a paid attorney would. Interns, faculty, or the consulting attorney will refer clients to a local attorney to fulfill these needs if that is what is required.
