Legal Intern Fellowship Program (LIFP)

Established in 1996, the LIFP was created to inspire the next generation of public interest attorneys and provide legal aid organizations with critical additional staff capacity over the summer. The program awards stipends to law students to work at qualified nonprofit legal aid organizations.

Geographic Scope: Massachusetts (preference given to Massachusetts permanent/future residents)

Funding:

• 2025 award: $120,000 to 15 law students ($8,000 each) - largest cohort to date
• 2024 award: $96,000 to 12 law students ($8,000 each)
• Up to 15 stipends available annually

Program Features:

• Law students gain hands-on experience and essential skills for legal careers
• Students support access to justice for low-income residents
• Internships must be at qualified nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts
• Internships must be volunteer positions (unpaid, with MBF providing stipend)
• Work commitment: 10+ continuous full-time weeks between May 1 and September 30
• Students represent law schools throughout New England

Supported By:

• Clark R. Smith Family Foundation
• MBF Fellows
• Contributions from Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts
• Massachusetts Bar Association's Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee

Contact:

• Phone: (617) 338-0500
• Address: Massachusetts Bar Foundation, 20 West Street, Boston, MA 02111
• Email: foundation@massbar.org

Application Process

Portal: Access via the online application portal at massbarfoundation.org/grants/legal-intern-fellowship-program

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicant Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in a United States law school
• Preference given to permanent/future residents of Massachusetts
• Have secured a volunteer internship with one qualified nonprofit organization in Massachusetts
• Primary focus of internship must be providing civil legal services to low-income clients
• Internship must provide substantial legal experience with serving and representing clients and preparing legal documents
• Demonstrate commitment to public interest law, including experience working with low-income clients and/or issues affecting this population
• Commit to work no less than 10 continuous, full-time weeks between May 1 and September 30
• Must specify duration of commitment at time of application

Organizational Requirements (for internship site):

• Located in Massachusetts
• Nonprofit organization
• In operation for at least one year
• Programs dedicated to providing civil (not criminal) legal services to low-income clients in Massachusetts
• Has a staff attorney to supervise and mentor the intern

Required Application Materials:

1. Completion of Application Information section
2. Essay
3. Completed Organizational Support Statement (from supervising attorney/organization)
4. Resume
5. Unofficial Law Student Transcript
6. Unofficial Undergraduate Transcript
7. One Letter of Reference from a supervisor, professor, or similar professional contact

Previous Deadline (2025): March 7, 2025