Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Justice Liaison Intern

🎯 Role Definition

A Justice Liaison Intern serves as a critical link between clients, legal professionals, court systems, and community-based social service providers. This role is designed for individuals passionate about social justice, providing them with hands-on experience in client advocacy, legal support, and case management within the criminal or civil justice landscape. The intern supports a team of attorneys, paralegals, or case managers by facilitating communication, coordinating services, and performing foundational legal and administrative tasks. The ultimate goal is to ensure clients receive holistic, effective support as they navigate complex legal proceedings, helping to mitigate barriers and promote more equitable outcomes.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Current undergraduate or graduate student (Criminal Justice, Social Work, Pre-Law)
Passionate volunteer with a background in community organizing or advocacy
Recent graduate seeking foundational experience in the legal or social justice field

Advancement To:

Paralegal or Legal Assistant
Policy Analyst or Advocate
Victim Advocate or Court Advocate
Case Manager in a social services agency

Lateral Moves:

Research Assistant (Legal or Public Policy)
Legislative Aide or Assistant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist legal and social work staff in managing a caseload of clients involved in the justice system by tracking deadlines, appointments, and progress.
Conduct initial intake interviews with potential clients to gather demographic information, case details, and assess immediate needs for services.
Serve as a point of contact, facilitating clear and consistent communication between clients, attorneys, court personnel, and external agencies.
Attend and observe court proceedings, such as arraignments, hearings, and trials, to provide client support and report back key information to the legal team.
Perform legal and policy research on issues relevant to client cases, including statutory interpretation, case law analysis, and sentencing guidelines under supervision.
Draft non-filing documents such as case summaries, client affidavits, correspondence, and internal memoranda for review by supervising attorneys.
Identify and connect clients with essential wraparound services, including mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, and employment programs.
Follow up with community-based providers to confirm client engagement and advocate for client needs to ensure continuity of care.
Assist in preparing clients and witnesses for court appearances, depositions, or meetings with prosecutors by reviewing case facts and explaining procedures.
Maintain meticulous and confidential client records, documenting all interactions, service referrals, and case milestones in the organization's case management system.
Help develop and maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date directory of community resources and referral partners.
Participate actively in weekly case review meetings, providing insightful updates on client progress and collaborating on case strategy.
Support the development and distribution of advocacy materials, such as "Know Your Rights" pamphlets, policy fact sheets, and community outreach flyers.
Collaborate with law enforcement, probation departments, and other justice system stakeholders to coordinate diversion opportunities and alternative-to-incarceration plans.
Aid in the collection and organization of discovery materials, evidence, and other critical documents for case preparation.

Secondary Functions

Provide general administrative support to the legal team, including scheduling client appointments, managing calendars, and organizing case files.
Assist in compiling and analyzing programmatic data for grant reports, internal evaluations, and presentations to stakeholders.
Monitor local and state-level legislative and policy developments relevant to the organization's mission and client population.
Contribute to the organization's communication efforts by drafting content for newsletters, social media, or the website, focusing on justice reform and educational topics.
Help plan and execute community legal education workshops, trainings, and other outreach events to inform the public.
Participate in coalition meetings with partner organizations to support broader advocacy campaigns and share information.
Transcribe client interviews, voicemails, or other audio recordings as needed for case files.
Assist with research for grant proposals and funding opportunities to sustain and expand justice-related programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Legal Research: Foundational ability to use legal research databases like Westlaw, LexisNexis, or public legal information websites.
Case Management Software: Familiarity with or ability to quickly learn platforms such as Clio, LegalServer, or similar client data systems.
Microsoft Office Suite: Proficiency in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for drafting documents, tracking data, and creating presentations.
Data Entry and Management: A high degree of accuracy and attention to detail in entering and maintaining client and case information.
Bilingual Fluency: Professional working proficiency in a second language (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Haitian Creole) is often highly preferred and sometimes required.
Legal Citation: Basic understanding of legal citation formats (e.g., Bluebook) is a plus.

Soft Skills

Empathy and Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build rapport and trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds, often in states of crisis.
Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for clear and compassionate interaction with clients, colleagues, and external partners.
Discretion and Confidentiality: Unwavering commitment to maintaining client confidentiality and handling sensitive information with the utmost integrity.
Organization and Time Management: Superb ability to multitask, prioritize competing deadlines, and manage a varied workload in a fast-paced environment.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying client barriers and resourceful in finding effective solutions.
Resilience and Composure: Ability to remain calm, professional, and effective while working in high-stress situations and with potentially traumatic subject matter.
Cultural Competency: A strong commitment to and understanding of issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly within the justice system.
Teamwork and Collaboration: A cooperative spirit and willingness to work as part of an integrated team to achieve shared goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, an accredited two-year or four-year college or university program.

Preferred Education:

Actively pursuing a Bachelor's, Master's, or Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Rising juniors and seniors in undergraduate programs are strongly encouraged to apply.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Criminal Justice or Criminology
Social Work (BSW or MSW)
Pre-Law, Legal Studies, or Paralegal Studies
Public Policy or Political Science
Sociology or Psychology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0-1 years. This is a foundational role designed for individuals with limited or no professional experience.

Preferred:

Demonstrated and genuine interest in social justice, criminal justice reform, public defense, or public interest law.
Prior experience (volunteer or paid) in a non-profit, social service, legal aid, or government setting.
Lived experience with the justice system is highly valued.
Experience working with marginalized or vulnerable populations.