Summer Internship

The Project on Predatory Student Lending fights for student loan borrowers who have debt from attending predatory institutions and who have been preyed on by predatory lenders. These entities engage in unfair, deceptive, and illegal conduct that leaves students and their families with overwhelming debt and limited economic opportunities. In addition to harming individual borrowers, predatory institutions and companies defraud taxpayers by taking federal financial aid money without giving students the benefit of a quality education. Because these entities target students based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status, this issue is at the intersection of consumer protection and civil rights law.

We litigate against predatory schools and lenders, enforce borrowers’ statutory and contractual right to debt cancellation after being defrauded, and hold the government accountable for failing to regulate schools and protect students. In an ever-changing political and regulatory landscape, the Project frequently engages in novel and agile litigation strategies to ensure its clients’ rights are enforced. To learn more about our current cases, please visit our website, read news coverage of our work, and listen to our clients’ experiences with predatory actors.

Internship Overview and Responsibilities

Summer interns will work closely with Project attorneys on the Project’s active cases and advocacy initiatives. Interns will receive training on the substantive areas of our litigation, including consumer law, higher education law, civil rights law, and administrative law. Interns will have the opportunity to learn structured client interviewing skills, receive feedback on legal research and writing, and gain exposure to strategic impact litigation.

Responsibilities will include drafting legal filings; researching and drafting legal memoranda on matters relating to borrowers’ rights, administrative law, and novel legal strategies; interacting with potential clients; and assisting with current cases.

Desired Experience and Qualifications

Candidates should demonstrate the following qualities:

• Rising 2L or 3L.
• Commitment to public interest law, particularly consumer protection, racial justice, equal access to education, and government accountability.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Strong communications skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Interest in working on a small team and willingness to help meet unforeseen challenges as they arise.
• In addition, we welcome candidates who are interested in pursuing a post-graduation fellowship and may be interested in creating a partnership with the Project.

The Project is committed to providing a welcoming and diverse environment, and seeks applicants from all backgrounds, including students who identify with the communities most impacted by predatory entities.

Schedule and Compensation

This position is fully remote and is an unpaid internship with a technology stipend to help with remote work costs if needed. Our program qualifies for public interest funding, and we are happy to provide support in obtaining it. This position is an unpaid, 35 hour a week internship. Hours will be Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The program is 10 weeks, but we are flexible from end of May to August.