Legislative Externship / 2027 Legislative Session

Nevada Coalition of Legal Service Providers

Home Office: 725 E. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89104 (Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada)
Session Office: 401 Ryland St., Reno, NV 89502 (Northern Nevada Legal Aid)

Placement Description

The Coalition of Legal Service Providers members are recognized as institutional legal services providers; the Coalition is comprised of: Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Nevada Legal Services, Southern Nevada Senior Law Program, Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans, and Northern Nevada Legal Aid. Though independent entities, the Coalition members collaborate to address civil legal needs across the state and to devise plans for addressing other civil legal delivery issues.

Access to justice is a fundamental principle in a democratic society. The need for statewide strategic planning and coordination of efforts to expand services and improve access to justice is critical to the many Nevadans in need of legal assistance and to Nevadans at large to ensure that equal justice under the law is a balanced standard among all citizenry. The Nevada Coalition of Legal Service Providers strive to evaluate and address civil legal needs across the state, create access to justice programs and fortify existing access to justice opportunities through advocacy with the courts, state legislature, and stakeholders.

An extern will work on the Coalition's legislative priorities: creating one-pagers, tracking legislation, meeting with stakeholders and legislators, tracking committees, reviewing legislation, and assisting in formulating policy positions on legislation.

Relative Clients or Areas of Law

• Consumer Law
• Landlord Tenant
• Child Welfare
• Record Sealing
• Adult Guardianship
• Special Education
• Minor Guardianship
• Services for Crime Victims
• Family Law

Types of Work and Experiences for Externs

• Reporting out on committee meetings
• Tracking and analyzing proposed legislation
• Working with community stakeholders
• Assisting in drafting amendments
• Meeting with legislators
• Developing materials and presentations on legislation
• Presenting legislation in a committee hearing

What makes this externship unique?

• We are mission driven and work for everyday Nevadans
• Opportunity to manage a bill
• Working with Legal Aid attorneys from around the state

To get the most from this experience, externs should be

• Able to interact with stakeholders of all viewpoints
• Able to synthesize information quickly
• An excellent communicator
• Organized and flexible

Positions Available

• Full-time, in person in Carson City

Anticipated Schedule

• Evening and/or weekend work expected: This will vary, with longer hours near deadlines

Student Availability

• Second-year or third year students who can commit through the conclusion of the Legislative Session (early June)
• Third-year students who are available only through graduation (mid-May)

Field Supervision

• The extern will work under the supervision of Jonathan Norman, Coalition Statewide Advocacy, Outreach & Policy Director

Compensation, Stipends & Financial Assistance

• William S. Boyd School of Law Externship Stipend and Legal Aid Center cost of living stipend

Required Qualifications

• To be eligible for this placement, students must have successfully completed the full-time first year course curriculum prior to the first day of placement

Preferred Qualifications

• NA