Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Summer Fellowship Program

The City of Boston’s Law Department provides legal services to the Mayor, City Council, and City departments regarding their official capacities within City government. They offer advice on legal issues related to the City’s work. They do not work with the general public. The Law Department’s mission is to provide excellent legal work by advising, facilitating, and defending City departments in order to make them more successful public servants for the community of Boston.

The Fellow will work with the two main divisions of practice — government services and litigation — providing research and litigation aid to Government Services attorneys across a variety of practice areas in addition to learning about civil defense litigation by conducting legal research, drafting pleadings, and reviewing claims. They will also accompany City attorneys to depositions and court hearings.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the selected law student will participate in the AGO’s Summer Legal Internship Program. As part of this unique opportunity, the selected law student will receive substantive work; supervision and skills development, particularly in legal research and writing; and invaluable mentorship and networking in an office committed to serving the needs of the Commonwealth. The intern will be paired with attorney mentors both at the Attorney General’s Office and through the BBA’s DEI Section. In addition, the Fellow will be invited to attend professional development and networking events held by the BBA. Finally, the Fellow will write a reflection piece at the end of the summer that will be published on the BBA’s website and social media pages. The intern may be invited to speak about the program at a BBA or BBF event during or after the internship period.

The AGO’s Summer Legal Internship Program is a 10-week full-time program for students completing their 1L or 2L years of law school. The Summer Legal Internship Program is a structured program of trainings, events, and presentations and will run from June 2, 2025- through August 8, 2025. Considering students’ areas of interest, interns are assigned to a particular division within the office. We anticipate that students will be working in the office with the option of some remote time.

The Civil Service Commission is an impartial, independent appellate tribunal that hears and decides appeals filed by certain state and municipal civil service employees and applicants seeking public employment. In short, the Commission is a quasi-judicial agency charged with ensuring that public employees, and those seeking appointment as public employees, receive fair and impartial treatment in all aspects of personnel administration. Appeals received by the Commission (over 200, on average, per year) generally regard appointments, promotions, disciplinary matters, examinations, and requests for reclassification.

The selected intern will assist the Commission’s general counsel and four full-time commissioners in the adjudicatory process – from compiling and summarizing information at the outset of an appeal, to attending evidentiary hearings, researching pertinent questions of law, sifting through the evidence, and helping to draft adjudicatory decisions. Fellows almost certainly will leave with an excellent writing sample or two and an enhanced knowledge base concerning administrative, civil rights, labor and employment law. Given recent major revisions of the civil service statutes, substantial exposure to legal policy matters is also likely.

The Commission is open to a hybrid work arrangement yet believes that in-person interactions often form the best learning and mentoring experiences. The likelihood of in-person interactions with a Commissioner or the General Counsel is highest on workdays other than Fridays. Summer Fridays are typically remote workdays for most Commission employees.

Superior writing skills are the best predictors of success for prospective applicants. Any related work experience will be viewed as a plus. Also highly valued is a genuine commitment to public service; knowledge of and respect for the diverse communities the Commission serves; attention to detail, prior legal writing experience, and the motivation to make the most of this fellowship opportunity.

Through this program, the Fellow will intern at the MCAD in the General Counsel’s Office and will have the opportunity to assist with evaluating legal issues under review by the General Counsel, learn about, observe and assist with MCAD  litigation processes and proceedings, conduct legal research, prepare legal memoranda for the Office of the General Counsel, and assist with the drafting of MCAD policies, procedures, regulations and guidance.

The MCAD internship program gives students firsthand experience working at the state agency charged with protecting the people of Massachusetts from discriminatory treatment through the investigation and adjudication of discrimination complaints as well as discrimination prevention education, outreach, and training.  The Summer 2025 program will likely be a hybrid work experience, with one to two days in MCAD’s Boston office and three days working remotely from home, or another approved remote location.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the selected law student will participate in the CPCS’s Summer Legal Internship Program at the Youth Advocacy Division (YAD) in Roxbury. YAD Roxbury provides zealous legal representation on delinquency and youthful offender cases using the Positive Youth Development Approach, as well as the same criminal defense skills needed to practice in district and superior courts. The office also provides post dispositional advocacy and support to DYS committed youth, as well as school-based advocacy.

The Fellow will work alongside a team of CPCS attorneys and a social service advocate. Students qualified to appear in court under SJC Rule 3:03 will represent clients in Juvenile Court at arraignments, bail appeals, and pretrial motions, all under the close supervision of experienced attorneys. Out-of-court work includes legal research and writing, case investigation, client meetings, and assisting attorneys with the preparation of trials. Students are also encouraged to attend court as often as they would like to observe motions and trials. During summer 2025, the internship will be held in-person at the office in Nubian Square.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the Fellow will work in the Office of the General Counsel of DCF. As part of this opportunity, the selected law student will receive substantive work; mentorship, supervision and skills development, particularly in legal research and writing.

DCF strives to protect children from abuse and neglect and, in partnership with families and communities, ensure children are able to grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. DCF’s Office of the General Counsel provides advice and representation to the agency in appeals of care and protection and termination of parental rights cases, employment matters, tort claims and administrative reviews in Superior court. The Fellow will have the opportunity to:

• Conduct legal research and write internal memoranda of law in matters pertaining to child welfare and adoption law;
• Assist members of the Office of the General Counsel in preparing appellate briefs, orders, opinions, rules and regulations related to the administration and enforcement of laws within the jurisdiction of the agency, including child welfare and adoption law;
• Provide legal assistance to other members of the Office of the General Counsel as needed in areas of contracts, administrative law, procurement, confidentiality, public records, legislation and agency policy;
• Assist members of the Office of the General Counsel on litigation matters facing the agency; and
• Prepare memorandum and other documents needed for the field on legal procedures and requirements for agency cases which are pending in the courts.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the selected law student will participate in the MassDEP’s Office of General Counsel Summer Legal Internship Program. As part of this unique opportunity, the selected law student will receive substantive work; supervision and skills development, particularly in legal research and writing; and invaluable mentorship and networking in an office committed to serving the needs of the Commonwealth.

The Office of General Counsel (OCG) encourages interns to attend as many OGC events as possible. These include prehearing conferences, adjudicatory hearings, public hearings, mediation sessions, settlement negotiations, legal practice group sessions (discussions among attorneys focused on a particular area of law), and/or meeting with the program staff. MassDEP seeks intern input as to what projects they find interesting, and MassDEP attempts to accommodate interns’ requests to the extent possible.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the selected law student will participate in the EOVS General Counsel’s Office summer internship program. The mission of EOVS is to advocate on behalf of all the Commonwealth’s veterans and provide them with quality support services and to direct an emergency financial assistance program for those veterans and their dependents who are in need.

The General Counsel’s office oversees all EOVS legal matters and provides counsel and advice to the Secretary, senior management, and EOVS staff. You will help the General Counsel with providing legal direction and supervision relating to the statutory program of financial benefits and emergency services provided to eligible Massachusetts veterans under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 115, Sections 1 through 15 and the regulations found in Title 108 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations. In addition, EOVS oversees the State Operated Veterans Homes in Holyoke and Chelsea. Both Homes, which provide long term care facilities as well as independent living facilities to eligible Massachusetts veterans, grapple with complex legal issues including healthcare law, privacy law, employment and labor matters, probate, guardianship, estate matters, and tort law.

The intern will work closely with EOVS General Counsel and gain excellent experience in legal research and writing, document review and substantive knowledge of and exposure to the practice of administrative law, healthcare law, and public/legislative law. The intern will be responsible for legal research and writing, document drafting, litigation assistance and general legal work as assigned.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the selected law student will participate in Massport’s Legal Internship Program. As part of this unique opportunity, the Fellow will receive substantive work; supervision and skills development, particularly in legal research and writing; invaluable mentorship and networking, while gaining firsthand experience working at a dynamic quasi-public entity with operations that include Boston-Logan International Airport, Worcester Regional Airport, Hanscom Field, Flynn Cruiseport Boston, Conley Terminal, and Authority-owned property in South Boston, East Boston and Charlestown. 

Massport exists in service of progress and opportunity, connecting Massachusetts and New England to the world, and dedicated to the vibrant neighborhoods around us. The Legal Department advises the Authority in every aspect of the Authority’s operations, including litigation, employment, security, real estate, finance, construction, contracts, environmental and other matters. The Fellow will perform research and other legal assignments in these various areas, gaining valuable experience applicable to both the public and private sector. 

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation. 

For more information about the work of the Massachusetts Port Authority, please visit www.massport.com. 

Through this program, the selected law student will participate in the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Summer Legal Internship Program. Legal Interns work under the direction of the OIG’s Office of the General Counsel. Legal Interns will have the opportunity to draft legal research memoranda in various areas of law related to fraud, waste and abuse in the expenditure of public funds as well as law related to the administration of the OIG. Legal Interns may have the opportunity to work with the OIG’s Government Outreach and Public Policy Division, including analyzing legislative matters and attending hearings at the State House. Legal Interns may also have the opportunity to assist the OIG’s investigative divisions if legal issues arise during an investigation, audit or review. Legal Interns should be familiar with online legal research databases and have an interest in public service.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the selected law student will participate in the SCDAO’s Summer Legal Internship Program. As part of this unique opportunity, the selected law student will receive substantive work; supervision and skills development, particularly in legal research and writing; and invaluable mentorship and networking in an office committed to serving the people of Suffolk County and to making the criminal legal system more equitable, transparent, and responsive.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by the Boston Bar Foundation.

Through this program, the Fellow will intern in the chambers of Judge Christopher J. Panos. The intern will attend in-person motion sessions, trials, and other events at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Boston. The internship is currently expected to be primarily in person at the court. As part of this unique Fellowship, the selected law student will be provided with the opportunity to work directly with Judge Panos and his law clerks. The intern will observe courtroom proceedings, become familiar with bankruptcy and commercial law, and enhance their legal research and writing skills.

This program is organized by the Boston Bar Association and funding is made possible by
the Boston Bar Foundation