Center for Disability & Elder Law
Legal Intern
The Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) hosts Legal Interns each academic year. During 2026-2027 Winter Break, the Legal Intern will participate in a remote internship. CDEL will provide complete training and supervision of the student.
During the Winter Break period, activities are conducted almost exclusively remotely by CDEL. The time commitment will vary depending on individual school winter breaks and availability.
The internship is unpaid. Time spent may qualify for pro bono hours for applications to a state bar.
Interns will primarily assist with client screening, intakes and follow up correspondence. The student will gain experience in the following practice areas and develop the stated skills:
Practice Areas
Estate planning
Guardianship
Housing
Collections
Financial Abuse
Family Law
Skills
Interviewing candidates for service
Document drafting
Students interested in Elder Law, Disability Law, Public Interest Law and Housing Law are specifically invited to apply.
CDEL is an equal opportunity employer. We are a welcoming community that engages, encourages and empowers those who are members of underrepresented communities. We are a dedicated advocate for our clients who hold many diverse identities and experiences, across race, color, sex, age, religion, class, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge, source of income, housing status and gender identity. We believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized and underrepresented communities to apply for this position. We also encourage you to read our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement available on our website.
Applications are considered as they are received.
Skills Required
- Must be a student available during the 2026–2027 winter break period.
- Interest in elder law, disability law, public interest law, or housing law.
What We Do
Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) is a nonprofit legal-services organization serving low-income older adults and people with disabilities in Chicago and suburban Cook County, Illinois. It provides free legal assistance on financial and housing stability, estate and end-of-life planning, divorce, and adult guardianship. The organization also works to foster pro bono service within the Chicago and Cook County legal communities, using volunteers across its programs.
