All employment positions for attorneys, legal advocates, and administrative staff are posted as they arise. SeniorLAW Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and deeply values diversity in all facets.
Job Opportunities
Public Interest Fellowship Opportunities
We consider new attorneys licensed in Pennsylvania (or who will be licensed prior to the start date of a fellowship) to join our staff as public interest fellows through a variety of fellowship opportunities, including Independence Foundation, Skadden, Equal Justice, Borchard Foundation, ABA and others. We seek fellowship candidates who are creative, compassionate, energetic, flexible, confident, and culturally-sensitive, to represent, educate, intake/interview, counsel, and advocate for senior clients and be a part of our team of experienced lawyers and advocates. Fellows will receive excellent training and supervision. Fellows help create and lead a legal services project focused on a particular issue, population, or unmet legal need or challenge facing low-income older Pennsylvanians. They will intake and interview clients, handle an individual caseload, assist legal staff with more complex litigation and cases, advocate and negotiate, develop community education materials, help conduct outreach workshops and attend community events, conduct legal research, writing and drafting, participate in systemic advocacy efforts, and handle other office tasks and special projects, as needed.
Fellowship applications are considered starting in the spring generally for the fall of the following year, depending on the Fellowship. Ideal applicants have demonstrated public interest, pro bono, or volunteer experience working with low-income communities. Excellent oral and written communications skills, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and a commitment to serving vulnerable and diverse communities required. Experience in aging and/or poverty law, representing clients in various areas of civil law, and working with senior citizens, minority, and limited English proficient communities are all preferred. Persons with bilingual ability and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. SeniorLAW Center deeply values diversity.
Interested applicants should send a resume with a cover letter to Leah M. Finlayson, Esq., Legal Director, via e-mail to LFinlayson@seniorlawcenter.org.
Students
SeniorLAW Center regularly hosts law students in full-time summer internships as well as part-time internships and externships through the school semester. Students are encouraged to explore law school funding and work-study eligibility before applying.
Internships focus on advocating for and addressing the legal needs of senior citizens, including the low-income, veterans, minorities, immigrants and refugees, and those most in need. Interns handle a wide variety of substantive problems which may include elder abuse, housing, family law, consumer protection, and advance planning.
Intern responsibilities include some or all of the following:
- Help intake and interview clients in person or via telephone intake
- Handle a small individual caseload with supervision
- Assist legal staff with more complex litigation and cases
- Help develop community education materials
- Help conduct outreach workshops and attend community events
- Conduct legal research, writing, and drafting
- Participate in systemic advocacy efforts
- Handle other office tasks and special projects, as needed
Second-year law students are preferred, but first-year students with bilingual abilities and/or exemplary direct public interest experience or other legal or relevant work or volunteer experience will be considered. The ideal candidate will also have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, the ability to work under pressure, and superior writing and communication skills. Relevant experience in a legal program or law office preferred. Interest in and ability to work with older people and sensitivity to older people of different backgrounds required. Demonstrated commitment to public interest preferred. Bilingual capabilities a plus. Students should explore work-study, law school, or other external funding and include information in their cover letter.
SeniorLAW Center has excellent internship and externship opportunities through Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law, and Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, and we encourage students to apply through their law school faculty. We welcome inquiries from students of other law schools with externship programs.
If you are interested in work-study, internships, or externships, please submit your resume and cover letter on our employment website.