Externships/Fellowships
Willkie maintains four externship programs and one fellowship program. Associates serve on a rotating basis as full-time attorneys from four months to one year during which they are relieved of all Willkie responsibilities. Associates from all practice areas are invited to participate. In addition, summer law clerks have the opportunity to participate in weeklong externships with several organizations.
“I served as an extern-attorney for six months at Her Justice, an organization that provides free legal services to women in NYC. During the externship, I had the privilege of helping over a dozen clients. The experience was both personally and professionally invaluable, and I am grateful for Willkie’s continued commitment.”
- Genevieve M. DiSpirito,
Partner
Her Justice
Her Justice, an organization founded by a former Willkie partner, provides legal services to women living in poverty in New York City in the areas of matrimonial, family and immigration law. The Willkie extern is given a full caseload of family law matters in New York City Family Court and New York State Supreme Court.
Mobilization for Justice
Mobilization for Justice provides legal assistance to low-income residents of New York City on a wide range of civil issues. The Willkie extern handles a full caseload of landlord/tenant matters in and out of New York City Housing Court.
NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund (LDF) provides litigation and advocacy to promote racial justice throughout the country. Areas of focus include: criminal justice, economic justice, education and political participation. The Willkie extern supports LDF’s efforts these areas.
The Washington Lawyer’s Committee
The Washington Lawyer’s Committee provides pro bono legal services to address discrimination and poverty in the Washington, D.C. area. The Willkie extern works on a variety of matters to combat discrimination based on race, gender, disability, family size, criminal history and more.
“I had the honor of serving as Willkie’s inaugural extern with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), a leading United States civil rights organization devoted to fighting for racial justice. During my time at LDF, I worked extensively on various cases involving education equality, voting rights, and equitable access to healthcare. My externship experience allowed me to further hone critical legal skills that I developed at Willkie while pursuing my passion for racial justice.”
- Kaydene Grinnell,
Associate
NYC Legal Fellows Program
Through New York City’s Legal Service Initiative, the City is partnering with law firms to provide junior associates with the opportunity to work with City agencies. Willkie’s Legal Fellow spends one year working with a New York City agency to address issues ranging from climate change to discrimination to healthcare and beyond. Participating City agencies include: DOE Office of Special Investigations; DOE Risk Management and Litigation; Department of Investigation; Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice; Mayor’s Office of Contract Services; Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Mayor’s Office of Risk Management and Compliance; Office of Labor Relations; and Chief Counsel to the Mayor and City Hall.
Summer law clerks have the opportunity to participate in weeklong externships with the ASPCA, Her Justice, Mobilization for Justice and Sanctuary for Families.