Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) believes the law is for everyone. Many people in Illinois face legal problems but cannot afford a lawyer or find free legal help. ILAO helps close the justice gap by publishing free, plain-language legal information, self-help tools, and court forms that people can use on their own. Our resources also support legal aid lawyers, volunteers who help self-represented people, and community organizations.

PILI interns and fellows help develop and maintain legal information on IllinoisLegalAid.org under the supervision of our Illinois-licensed staff lawyers. Through supporting our legal information work, interns and fellows enhance their legal research and writing skills, practice project management techniques in a professional editorial environment, and learn about the diversity of legal aid careers. We also encourage our PILI alumni to build lasting relationships with ILAO and the legal aid community, including serving on our Young Professionals Board.

ILAO accepts:

• One part-time PILI intern during the fall and spring semesters,
• One full-time PILI intern during the summer, and
• Two PILI fellows as part of PILI’s bar summer fellowship program.

Remote work expectations

All interns and fellows must:

• Live in Illinois for the duration of their time at ILAO,
• Work independently and remotely from an Illinois location, using their own equipment such as a computer and internet connection,
• Attend video calls scheduled during regular Illinois business hours,
• Complete work as assigned and follow internal procedures,
• Fulfill all required hours for funding or academic credit, and
• Communicate in advance about scheduling needs.

Program scheduling

Fall and spring interns:

• Must be available at least 12 hours per week during regular Illinois business hours (the remaining work can be completed during weekends and evenings if needed), and
• May have external practical legal commitments such as other externships, internships, clinics, legal jobs, or similar opportunities, as long as they can commit to at least 12 Illinois business hours per week with ILAO.

Summer interns:

• Must be available 40 hours per week during regular business hours for the entire summer (we do not offer split summers), and
• Cannot juggle multiple practical legal commitments, such as other externships, internships, clinics, legal jobs, or similar opportunities, during their time at ILAO.

Fellows: 

• May start work as early as the first full week of April,
• Can work part-time in June to accommodate bar study and take July off entirely, and
• Must complete all hours before beginning employment at their sponsoring firm.

Cover letter requirements

Before applying, carefully review this posting and the IllinoisLegalAid.org website. In the cover letter:

• Explain which ILAO legal information topics you find most interesting and why,
• Confirm plans to live in Illinois and be available for remote work during regular business hours as set forth above,
• Describe why remote legal editing work is appealing, and
• Highlight any relevant prior experience that demonstrates the ability to work independently and complete detail-oriented tasks.

This agency is approved to host a Law Student Intern during the Fall and Spring semesters and during the summer. They are also approved to host Graduate Fellows.