THE ORGANIZATION

Ascend Justice is a mission-driven nonprofit legal aid organization. Our mission is to empower individuals and families impacted by gender-based violence or the child welfare system—we strive to help people achieve safety and stability through holistic legal advocacy and system reform. We provide free legal services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and stalking, as well as people facing child welfare investigations, in the following areas: 

Family Defense

We help parents and caregivers with ongoing DCFS investigations of child abuse or neglect, as well as expungement appeals and civil rights cases. 

Family Law 

We provide divorce services and handle parental responsibility and other child-related matters for both married and unmarried parents. Family law attorneys also assist our immigration clients with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases.  

Incarcerated Survivors 

We provide services across all our practice areas to survivors who are or have been incarcerated in Illinois.

Immigration 

We provide services that help immigrants who have been victims of crime and/or abuse stay in the US legally (U visas, T visas, VAWA Self-Petitions, Battered Spouse Waivers, SIJS cases, asylum, and non-detained removal

Orders of Protection

At the Domestic Violence Courthouse, we help people get court orders mandating that an abuser stop the abuse, leave a home, or stay away from children. 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Interns choose one of the above practice areas for their internship. Specific duties vary by program, however general intern duties include interviewing and communicating with clients; performing legal research on related issues; drafting pleadings, motions, subpoenas, and client communications; working directly with attorneys in preparing for contested hearings; and other duties as assigned. Students licensed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 may act as counsel in court under the supervision of an attorney. 

Internships run for an entire academic term. Intern can also elect to work for the entire school year. Internship may be fully remote or partially in person depending on current conditions, state and local regulations, and individual preference.