LeGaL Law Student Center

LeGaL is committed to engaging the participation of law students in the work and activities of the organization. 

Membership in LeGaL is free during the law school years!

(click on the link directly above to join)

Law Student Representative

Each year a law student representative is elected to serve on the LeGaL Board of Directors where the student participates in all aspects of management of the organization.  Elections are generally held each October for the following year.  Announcements regarding the nomination and election process will be included in the LeGaL E-bulletin.

Law Student Leadership Committee

LeGaL recently launched this committee to promote the active participation of the law student community in the work of LeGaL. This committee will ensure that LeGaL is engaged with the law student community, enhance interaction with LGBT affinity groups at area law schools, assist with LeGaL programs impacting the law student community and organize networking and social events for LGBT law students while promoting networking and mentoring among law students and practicing attorneys. If you are interested in joining the committee, please e-mail info@le-gal.org (subject header: "Law Student Leadership Committee") and include your name, your law school, your anticipated year of graduation and your contact information. 

Dr. M.L. “Hank” Henry Jr. Fund for Judicial Internships 

The LeGaL Foundation’s longstanding and unique rotational internship program for law students places students with a variety of judges from different courts in New York City to give interns unparalleled exposure to a variety of courts and tribunals.  A $4,000 stipend is awarded to a qualified law student to support the 10-week judicial internship each summer.  The Fund for Judicial Internships was established in memory of Dr. Henry, whose ground breaking work encouraged openly lesbian and gay lawyers to seek and achieve judicial office in New York City.  The internship is intended for students with a demonstrated interest in, and commitment to, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The Dr. M.L. "Hank" Henry, Jr., Fund for Judicial Internships values diversity. All interested students are encouraged to apply

The fund has been supported over the years by MetLife Legal Affairs, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and generous individual contributors.

Visit the Hank Henry page for additional information and announcements regarding the application process.

Walk-In Clinic Internship Program

Each Fall and Spring semester LeGaL invites law students to participate in the work of our weekly walk-in clinic at The Center in Manhattan.  The program provides a unique opportunity to contribute to the LGBT community while networking with our attorney members of varied professional backgrounds. The intern gains exposure to the vast array of legal issues confronting members of the City’s LGBT community by sitting in on consultations between our volunteer attorneys and clinic visitors and helping to administer the clinic while assisting in the preparation of resource guides and legal fact sheets, which assist both the public and our attorney volunteers. 

Annual Career Fair for First-Year Law Students 

LeGaL holds an annual career fair dedicated to first-year gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender law students in the New York City metropolitan area.  The event is typically held in March or April each year at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan.  Law students meet informally with lawyers and recruiters from major area legal employers to learn about employment opportunities in preparation for the fall recruiting season.  The event also features panel discussion on topics relevant to the job search process.  Visit our Carer Fair page for additional information and announcements.

Mentoring Program

Visit the Mentoring Homepage for more information on the LeGaL Mentoring Program co-sponsored by NALP's LGBT Section.

Annual Law Conference

The LeGaL Foundation co-sponsors an annual law conference with a local LGBT law student group.  The conference brings together lawyers, law students, activists and other interested people to a one-day event of panels and discussion  focused on a timely topic of interest to the LGBT community. The event is typically held in October or November of each year.

Social & Networking Events

Law student members of LeGaL are invited to attend our social and networking events held throughout the year.