The Alliance for Children's Rights

You can make a difference in a child's life by representing his or her caregivers in a legal matter. Matters that you may take on as a pro bono attorney include probate guardianships, foster care adoptions, financial benefits, healthcare, transitioning youth, special education and other legal advocacy. To become a part of The Alliance for Children's Rights' pro bono attorney network, please contact:

Diego Cartagena, Esq.
(213) 368-6010
D.Cartagena@kids-alliance.org

"Before coming to work at the Alliance, I wasn't convinced being a lawyer was the right way for me to help my community, but now I'm sure it is."

The Alliance welcomes law student externs throughout the year. During Fall and Spring, the law student externship commitment will be consistent with the requirements of the students’ law school externship program and must be for a full semester with not less than 15 hours per week over two days in The Alliance offices. The Alliance summer program provides an in-depth clinical experience for law students and is a full-time, ten-week program starting just after Memorial Day and running to mid-August. This program is highly competitive and The Alliance recruits nationally. For more information and application procedures, click here.

Law students work under the direction of the pro bono coordinator and staff attorneys on intake as well as on an assigned project area, and have an opportunity to:

analyze and assess individual clients’ needs
participate in direct communication with clients
review each case with a staff attorney to determine what assistance is needed
prepare paperwork for a variety of legal matters
attend court proceedings such as fair hearings, mediations, trials
attend meetings relating to children’s issues
attend and participate in legal and community trainings
tour facilities for children, such as the Children’s Court
assist in the development of resource materials for clients
conduct legal research and prepare pleadings and memoranda*

*While there may be research and writing opportunities, the focus of our program is the opportunity for a law student to provide direct legal services and advocacy on behalf of clients.

Application Procedures: School credit is offered for externships and must meet the individual requirements of each law school’s externship program policies. Internships and externships during fall and spring may be part-time or full-time. Summer positions are reserved for law students only and are full-time. The Alliance does not permit split-summers. Resumes will be accepted for our summer program from September through mid-February of each year and offers are made on a rolling basis. Resumes for fall internships/externships will be accepted beginning in April and for spring beginning in September until all positions are filled. Please send resume and cover letter to: Diego Cartagena, Esq., Pro Bono Coordinator, D.Cartagena@kids-alliance.org.

The Alliance offers internships for college students during Fall and Spring only. College student interns work under the direction of a staff attorney and assist with client intake, advocacy and preparing legal documents relating to an Alliance program of their choice. Fall and Spring internships may be full- or part-time, with a minimum commitment of eight hours a week over two days for a full semester (15 weeks). For more information and application procedures, click here.

Scheduling is flexible within office hours (9:00am – 5:30pm). Submit a resume with a cover letter beginning in April for Fall opportunities and in September for Spring.

Application Procedures: School credit is offered for externships and must meet the individual requirements of each school’s externship program policies. Internships and externships during fall and spring may be part-time or full-time. Summer positions are reserved for law students only and are full-time. The Alliance does not permit split-summers. Resumes will be accepted for our summer program from September through mid-February of each year and offers are made on a rolling basis. Resumes for fall internships/externships will be accepted beginning in April and for spring beginning in September until all positions are filled. Please send resume and cover letter to: Diego Cartagena, Esq., Pro Bono Coordinator, D.Cartagena@kids-alliance.org.

The Alliance is always looking for volunteers from the community to assist with client intake, advocacy, case management and administrative projects. We request volunteers commit to a minimum of 8 hours per week spread over two days for at least 15 weeks. Spanish fluency is an asset. Scheduling is flexible within office hours (9:00am – 5:30pm).

The Alliance welcomes attorneys who are interested in volunteering their services at The Alliance for Children's Rights offices. We often have cases that need the attention of an attorney who is willing to be on-site during our weekday hours of 9 am – 5:30 pm. During your time in the office you may assist with intake or work on individual cases. The advantage is that you have access to our staff attorneys, who will help you along the way. You may set your own schedule but we ask that you make a minimum commitment to at least 4 hours per week in the office.

The Alliance offers year-long internship opportunities for second year social work students interested in child welfare advocacy. Interns will have the opportunity to work with each of our programs. For more information and application instructions, contact Barbara Facher: b.facher@kids-alliance.org .