Claire Slack, Tufts University Class of 2024, Political Science and Anthropology
“I’ve really appreciated coming into this organization and [it’s] been very welcoming . . . I’ve been sitting in on staff meetings, which is super interesting. I’ve been able to see how those run and I’ve been able to get a little bit of insight on what the nonprofit assistance program does.”
Claire has been an intern with the Legal Clinic for the Homeless since January 2025.
The Legal Clinic operates both virtually and in person at local shelters and service agencies. Through the clinic, clients are connected with volunteer attorneys who can assist them with a variety of civil legal matters including eviction, housing conditions, denials of benefits like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and credit and tax issues.
At in-person clinics, Claire helps with client intake and vetting potential clients to see if the clinic can properly assist their needs. At virtual clinics, she manages breakout rooms, calls clients, and conducts client satisfaction and case closure surveys. She enjoys working in person, seeing clients, and hearing their stories.
Santiago Steinman, Boston University Class of 2027, International Relations and Business Administration
“Just yesterday, I got [on a call] with a man who was very nice but also was incredibly thankful for what the Lawyers Clearinghouse did for him. It felt really great to hear how much it changed his life.”
Santiago has been an intern with the CORI Sealing and Expungement Clinic since January 2025.
The CORI Sealing and Expungement Clinic connects people who have Massachusetts-based criminal records (CORI) with volunteer attorneys who can assist them with sealing or expunging their records for free.
Santiago says he tries to maintain a positive experience for clients by managing Zoom meetings for the clinic and collecting client feedback throughout the process of sealing or expungement. He enjoys hearing how the CORI clinic has impacted the lives of clients for the better.
Selin Durmus, Boston University Class of 2025, International Relations and Political Science
“My favorite part has been how welcoming everyone at the Lawyer’s Clearinghouse has been, and there’s always opportunities to be more involved. For example, I’m allowed to attend a lot of the workshops we have. In fact, almost all of them I’ve been able to directly participate in or attend.”
Selin has been an intern with the Nonprofit Assistance Program since October 2023.
The Nonprofit Assistance Program connects nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts with pro bono legal assistance, educational workshops, and resources to ensure they can address pressing legal matters and best serve their communities.
Selin follows up with clients during the referral intake process and collects feedback from volunteer attorneys and referral clients. She also attends Nonprofit Assistance Program workshops and committee meetings, as well as board meetings and Access to Justice Fellows Program meetings. Selin says the internship has helped her learn about public legal services, nonprofit law, and data collection.
Phylicia Dias, Northeastern University Class of 2027, Music Industry and Communications (Pre-Law Track)
“I feel like the amount of work I’m given, I can get it done within the week and not have to feel overwhelmed with all of my other extracurricular, academics, and personal life stuff. It’s just really easy for you to get your work done . . . I feel like my time and talent is being used correctly and I really appreciate that.”
Phylicia has been a Communications Intern since February 2025.
She helps run the Clearinghouse’s social media accounts by reposting articles and creating graphics and captions. She also checks to see if information about Lawyers Clearinghouse is up to date on other websites and conducts research on other organizations that the Clearinghouse can partner with for collaborative posts. She says her goal is to improve engagement for the organization on all of its social media platforms.
Lucas De Oliveira, Boston University Class of 2026, Journalism and Public Relations
“I’ve spoken to so many people who have told me how the Lawyer’s Clearinghouse and their supporting clinics have changed their lives for the better. It’s this type of impact that makes me feel good about working for an organization like this.”
Lucas has been a Communications Intern since February 2025.
He interviews Clearinghouse clients and their legal advocates and writes Pro Bono Victories about their experiences. He also writes articles for newsletters and occasionally photographs in-person events and conferences. He said his favorite part about working for Lawyer’s Clearinghouse is meeting clients and hearing their stories.
Thank you to Lucas for compiling this piece highlighting our Spring Interns!
