We regularly seek year-round and term-time lawyers, law students, and college students interested in volunteering for transgender equal rights. Our practice is challenging and cutting-edge, and our office is supportive and congenial. Application information and a description of our internships is included here. Internships may vary depending on an applicant's level of experience. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Location: New York City.
Qualifications: Because of the focused and challenging nature of the work TLDEF does, we prefer interns who have some experience with transgender issues. A background in or familiarity with issues, legal and otherwise, that are important to transgender people will greatly strengthen an application. Commitment to public interest law or non-profit work also strengthens an application.
Interns' Responsibilities/Projects: Our interns will assist attorneys with research and drafting in ongoing cases, prospective cases, and amicus curiae briefs, in all areas of transgender civil rights; research, draft, and/or edit publications on same issues for general public education.
Funding: These positions are unpaid; interns are encouraged to seek out and apply for grants and/or funding from other sources. We will assist with work study and any forms or applications related to funding sources.
Application Procedure/Deadline: Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, recent writing sample, and contact information for three references by email:
Transgender people, other members of the LGBT community, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. TLDEF is an equal opportunity employer.
About TLDEF
Transgender people have been subject to pervasive discrimination that has kept them, with rare exceptions, hidden from public view. While this discrimination has begun to lessen, transgender people still experience much prejudice and violence. TLDEF is committed to ending discrimination based upon gender identity and expression and to achieving equality for transgender people through public education, test-case litigation, direct legal services, community organizing and public policy efforts.
TLDEF’s in-house legal program brings test-case litigation with wide impact in all areas of transgender civil rights. From fighting employment discrimination to ensuring equal access to health care, we're working tirelessly for transgender equal rights. We continually seek to leverage our limited resources through innovative programs designed to harness the resources of the private bar for the public good. Our Name Change Project, which provides free and low-cost legal name changes to community members through partnerships with some of New York City's premier law firms, including Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and others, is one such program. And our community organizing project, the Transgender Health Initiative of New York, harnesses the power of community participation to improve access to care for transgender people.
TLDEF combats discrimination against transgender people wherever it arises. If you believe that you’ve been discriminated against because of your gender identity or expression, contact us.
