Legal Advocacy Internship
Legal Advocacy Internship ( Fall Semester Start Mid- August)
Schedule: Minimum 10 hours/week
Location: Remote
Compensation: Unpaid (school credit may apply)
To Apply:Please send your resume and a brief cover letter answering this prompt: If you had the power to redesign the criminal justice system from the ground up, what would be your priorities?
More consideration is placed on the cover letter than any experience on your resume. So not having any work experience is fine.
About ROOT Legal:
ROOT (Reclaiming Our Options Together) Legal is a public interest legal non-profit that brings the power of movement lawyering, research, and community.
Our work is grounded in non-carceral principles building community-rooted pathways to accountability, healing, and safety. We partner with people directly impacted by the criminal legal system, especially those labeled as “victims,” to reimagine justice.
ROOT Legal also confronts the devastating impact of court fines, fees on low-income communities, advocating for change while helping individuals navigate and overcome the economic barriers imposed by the system.
Key Responsibilities at ROOT Legal
- Assist individuals impacted by the criminal legal system, particularly those labeled as “victims” by the court.
- Conduct legal research, draft motions, and support court filings rooted in non-carceral, community-centered frameworks.
- Support efforts to challenge or lift court-imposed fines, fees, and other financial barriers to justice.
- Build trust-based relationships with directly impacted individuals and communities.
- Provide information in clear, accessible language.
- Help develop and facilitate workshops, teach-ins, or materials that explore non-carceral approaches to justice, the impact of the legal system through an abolitionist lens
- Participate in internal education sessions on topics such as transformative justice, movement history, and legal system critiques.
- Conduct research on systemic barriers (such as fines, fees, and victim laws) affecting Black and Brown communities in Florida.
- Participate in collective strategy sessions, debriefs, and case rounds.
- Create informational/ educational material
Ideal Candidates:
- Passionate about equity, community work, and rethinking how justice is defined.
- Strong writers and researchers, eager to explore alternatives to traditional legal responses.
- Organized, thoughtful, and able to work independently and collaboratively.
- Comfortable engaging with sensitive topics and approaching them with care and nuance.
- Familiarity with social media, Canva, or content creation is a plus—but not required.
- Students who are grounded in—or open to learning about—how to not reinforce carceral frameworks.
Why Join ROOT Legal?
This internship is an opportunity to develop professional skills while contributing to a growing organization working to shift how society responds to harm. You’ll be part of a team that values reflection, systemic thinking, and community leadership. Whether you're considering a future in public interest law, advocacy, or community organizing, ROOT Legal offers a space to learn, grow, and help shape a more compassionate and effective approach to justice. Highly encourage students that want to stay and grow with us throughout their school career.