INTERNSHIPS

Law Student Internships

The FHJC seeks highly motivated law students (1L-3L) during the fall and spring terms and for summer placements to assist the FHJC and cooperating attorneys with federal and state civil rights lawsuits and with cases pending before administrative agencies. Interns work on individual housing discrimination cases by conducting pre-litigation investigations and by researching and analyzing a wide variety of substantive and procedural issues. Interns also help prepare impact litigation involving housing discrimination in rental, sales, and mortgage lending on the basis of race, national origin, disability, family status, sex, including sexual harassment, marital status, sexual orientation, and other bases prohibited by federal, state, and/or local fair housing laws. The focus of most cases developed with student assistance is on expanding access to publicly assisted and affordable housing in the New York metropolitan area. Interested interns may also conduct research to help implement the C.H.O.I.C.E. Initiative to promote the development of racially diverse, mixed-income housing in neighborhoods that have traditionally excluded such housing or have lost substantial amounts of affordable housing due to gentrification. Interested candidates should e-mail or fax a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to:

Fair Housing Justice Center
5 Hanover Square, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Fax: (212) 400-8203
E-mail: fhjc@fairhousingjustice.org

Columbia Law School Housing Discrimination Seminar and Field Placement

Diane Houk, Esq. and Field Services Director Fred Freiberg teach the Housing Discrimination Seminar and Field Placement for Columbia law students (2L and 3L). The program offers students the opportunity to learn about fair housing law and policy while applying legal theory and civil litigation strategies to administrative and legal claims brought on behalf of individuals and organizations.  Each student is assigned a specific docket of housing discrimination cases pending before administrative agencies, federal or state court, or in the pre-litigation investigative phase. Students should expect to do substantial research and writing. Instructor permission is required to register for the Field Placement.