Boutique law firm seeks top-caliber rising senior (current junior) for full-time (35-hour workweek) paralegal internship in our New York office (in-person) during Summer 2024 at $38.46 per hour. A one-time relocation and housing stipend of up to $6,000 is available where relocation and/or housing is needed. 

About Us: 

Kostelanetz LLP is a close-knit, boutique firm of about 30 attorneys. Our practice includes white collar criminal defense, civil and criminal tax controversies, complex commercial civil litigation, government procurement, and tax and estate planning and transactions. Our practice is fast paced with constant opportunities to learn and grow. Our team includes well-seasoned attorneys with a variety of experience, from former federal prosecutors to law clerks. All of our partners are ranked in Best Lawyers or Super Lawyers, or both. 

Program Overview: 

Kostelanetz’s Spelman College Internship Program was launched in 2021 as an expansion of Kostelanetz’s Pre-Law Paralegal Program (for high-achieving college graduates). The program offers a paid internship to pre-law undergraduates at Spelman College. Interns will join Kostelanetz’s paralegal team for the summer before their senior year. 

Spelman interns benefit from a robust, hands-on program including mentorship at the paralegal, associate, and partner levels; 1L resources provided by our attorneys, paralegals, and staff; opportunities to write for prestigious legal journals; and more. While not all Spelman interns may pursue a career in one of our practice areas, one of our goals is to help pre-law students understand the various paths available to them, including policymaking, government service, private practice, accounting, and teaching, among others.

Spelman Internship alumni have gone on to attend Emory University School of Law, Harvard Law School, and the University of Virginia Law School. Our two most recent Spelman interns (Spring 2023) are currently working full-time at Kostelanetz as Pre-Law Paralegals.

Following completion of the internship and graduation from Spelman College, students may be offered a position as a full-time Pre-Law Paralegal, with the option to spend 1 year or 2 years with the firm prior to enrolling in law school.

Position description:

Internship responsibilities include case management, legal research, document review, legal and litigation support, interfacing with clients, as well as administrative work. During their time at Kostelanetz, interns meet with a Paralegal Guide, Associate Mentor, and Partner Mentor on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to organize their caseload and gain valuable insights into the legal field. In addition, interns are required to complete a checklist by the end of the summer to ensure they have substantively contributed to matters at the firm. 

The position is full-time for 35 hours per week with an early summer start date and late summer end date. The internship is in-person in our New York office. If interns join the Pre-Law Paralegal Program after graduation, they will work full-time in Kostelanetz’s D.C. or New York office.

Requirements: 

• Juniors currently enrolled at Spelman College with an expected graduation date of May 2025 
• Minimum 3.6 GPA 
• Outstanding academic credentials with strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
• Multi-task oriented, friendly, and capable of working well with others
• Exceptional computer skills – proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel a plus

Hourly rate: $38.46, non-exempt. $6,000 relocation and housing stipend available. 

Application components (PDF only): 

1. Resume 
2. Transcript (Unofficial transcripts directly from your college’s portal are acceptable.)
3. Cover letter
4. Writing Sample 

Prior to application submission, candidates should thoroughly review their materials, paying special attention to typos, grammatical errors, and the like, as a failure to correct such errors may result in removal of the application from our application pool.

Qualified candidates should submit PDF copies of their cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample via Handshake. If an applicant is unable to apply via Handshake, please apply directly through Kostelanetz’s application portal at https://boards.greenhouse.io/kostelanetzllp.

Application Deadline: Monday, January 15 at 11:59 pm ET.  NOTE: As candidates’ applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are invited to interview on a rolling basis, we encourage students to apply early and not wait until the deadline.

At Kostelanetz LLP, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion contribute to a safe and welcoming environment for our employees and strengthen our firm. We welcome applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, persons with disabilities, people from low-income backgrounds, and veterans. Applications from people who are members of underrepresented and/or marginalized communities are highly encouraged.

Kostelanetz LLP’s hiring practices are designed comply with, among other things, the New York City Human Rights Law, which, among other things, prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion/creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender (including sexual harassment), gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, military service, marital status, partnership status, height, weight, unemployment status, arrest or conviction record, credit history, caregiver status, and status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses.

If you have any questions about the application or position, please contact recruiting@kostelanetz.com, Mia Bailey at mbailey@kostelanetz.com, or Melina Watson at mwatson@kostelanetz.com.