Joel Matta recently graduated with his BA in Psychology and is enrolled to study Industrial Organizational Psychology at Hofstra University. He is interning with the Recruitment Department.

“I’ve enjoyed working with kind and devoted people who create a welcoming workplace environment. Learning about the full-cycle recruitment process and how it works has been intriguing. Even so, the effect it has on a company. My internship helped me develop skills that I can utilize going forward. I’m curious to learn more about different workforce practices and how The Legal Aid Society serves its clients.”

Salma Elsayed is an undergraduate intern for the Juvenile Rights Practice Education Advocacy Project.

“As an undergraduate intern for the Education Advocacy Project (EAP) this summer, I have really enjoyed working on a tight-knit and supportive team. I have been exposed to a variety of cases within  EAP and the JRP by working on suspension appeals, observing child protective intake, participating in client interviews and attending IEP meetings.

Although I was unsure of whether I wanted to apply to law school prior to the start of this internship, I have been in awe of the passion and advocacy of the Legal Aid attorneys I have worked with. I know now that I want to be a public defender, and I have found myself particularly interested in juvenile delinquency cases. I hope to return to the Legal Aid Society in several years!”

Dylan Marks is a rising 2L at UC Davis School of Law, interning with the Juvenile Rights Practice.

“The first week of my internship was eventful. After completing orientation and training, I was introduced in-person to the Juvenile Right Practice team to which I’ve been assigned as an intern: an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, paralegals, and social workers who tenaciously defend the rights, needs, and interests of children who appear in Family Courts in New York. They’ve been so welcoming and helpful. Many of the attorneys I’ve met have offered to have me shadow them in court and review the incredible work they are doing in the field. I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about work.

I’ve already had the privilege to attend court for intake, a hearing where children are first assigned an LAS attorney after an initial petition has been filed by the Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”) for abuse and/or neglect allegation(s). Twenty minutes after arriving at the office on my first day, my LAS internship coordinator invited me to sit in on a permanency hearing, held to ensure that ACS is meeting its obligations under the law and to review a parent’s compliance with an individualized service plan recommended by the agency. Within the next couple of weeks, I’ll have an opportunity to participate in client interviews, attend a fact-finding hearing, and conduct legal research for my LAS direct supervisor. Working alongside and observing attorneys like Kimberly Wong, Esq. and Angela Hines, Esq. advocate for their clients has been such an incredible and inspiring experience.”