As a Victim Advocacy Intern at ROOT Legal, you will be a key player in supporting our work to advocate for court designated victims of crime and individuals that can't rely on law enforcement, particularly those whose voices have historically been marginalized. This role will involve program development, social media outreach, research, donor relations, and grants management. We are specifically seeking individuals who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system or survivors of harm, who are passionate about reshaping the current model of justice toward healing and transformation through an abolitionist lens.

How to Apply:

To apply, please email info@root-legal your resume and a cover letter detailing your connection to the work and how your lived experience aligns with ROOT Legal’s mission and answering the prompt: If you had the power to redesign the criminal justice system from the ground up, what would be your priorities? 

If you do not have any work experience due to incarceration or unconventional income sources, you can just send a cover letter.

Be a part of our advocacy efforts and support our community initiatives.

Summer/Fall Internship 2025

ROOT (Reclaiming our Options Together) Legal internship program is for students interested in decarceration, movement lawyering, and community organizing.  In your cover letter, state which position you are interested in and whether you want to work remote or in-person. 

✿ Programs Internship Description

Job Title: Programs Intern

Schedule: Minimum 10 hours per week

Provide program and administrative support to the ROOT Legal team as you help create change for court-designated victims through research and community outreach.

Responsibilities:

• Attend weekly intern meetings to present projects, share findings, and ask questions.

• Meet with your supervisor for one-on-one assessments.

• Participate in community events.

• Research and invite organizations to collaborate on building out new networks to address harm.

• Build stronger relationships with community partners and maintain an understanding of key stakeholders.

• Research and track legislation at both national and local levels, providing detailed reports to the research team on victim rights.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Proficiency in Google Sheets and Excel.

• Strong time management, organization, and critical thinking skills.

• Attention to detail and ability to work independently.

• Good interpersonal skills and basic arithmetic knowledge.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Interest in political research and understanding of legislative processes.

Core Values:

• Able to view the project through a non-carceral lens; respect for diversity, integrity, and professionalism.

✿ Social Media Internship Description

Job Title: Social Media
Schedule: Minimum 10 hours per week

Create and manage content across social media platforms to promote ROOT legal and bring awareness to victim rights.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in weekly social media planning meetings, introducing upcoming events.

• Create posts and stories consistent with the organization’s branding.

• Write captions, tag relevant partners, and monitor engagement across platforms.

• Communicate regularly with supervisors about social media activities.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Experience with social media platforms, Google Drive, Canva, and graphic design tools.

• Strong communication, time management, and scheduling skills.

• Ability to create engaging content aligned with brand guidelines.

✿ Development Internship Description

Job Title: Development Intern
Schedule: Minimum 10 hours per week

Support organizational growth by researching grants and nonprofits while assisting with donor relationship management.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research on nonprofit organizations, grants, and growth opportunities.

• Maintain up-to-date data on victim satisfaction in Miami-Dade County.

• Assist in donor relationship management through CRM tasks, including data clean-up.

• Respond to inquiries and manage communications.

• Add donations and update constituent records in CRM.

• Perform administrative tasks and attend meetings as instructed.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Proficiency in CRM systems, Google Sheets, and Excel.

• Strong research, writing, and communication skills.

• Attention to detail, organization, and time management.

✿ Grants Internship Description

Job Title: Grants Intern
Schedule: Minimum 10 hours per week

Assist ROOT Legal in writing grant applications to secure funding for programs that support social justice and victims of crime.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the team to identify grant opportunities.

• Write and edit grant applications, ensuring alignment with funder requirements.

• Research funding sources and develop strong proposals.

• Support the organization’s development goals through effective grant writing.

• Maintain records of grant deadlines and submissions.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Strong writing skills and experience in grant writing.

• Ability to research funding opportunities and draft persuasive proposals.

• Proficiency in Google documents, spreadsheets, and CRM systems.

• Attention to detail and time management skills.

Send a resume and cover letter to the Director of Operations at info@root-legal.org.

ROOT Legal accepts applications on a rolling basis for our legal internship positions.

The internship program is for law students interested in decarceration and movement lawyering, who successfully complete their first year of law school and want to work with us in defending the human rights of justice-impacted people and their communities in Miami. Our casework includes direct representation of victims, researching victims’ rights law, and mediation. ROOT is accepting three Miami-based interns who will be asked to work in person at least two days a week, and two remote interns who can work from any location.

At ROOT, we believe that diverse perspectives are essential to shaping a more just world. If you identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, or come from a structurally marginalized community, we want to hear from you! We know that many talented individuals often hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every single requirement. Let us reassure you: if you feel a strong pull towards this opportunity, we encourage you to apply! Your passion, experiences, and unique insights are what we value most.

Apply: Applications should be sent in a single email with one PDF attachment including all materials (listed below) with the subject line “Legal Internship Application” to the Director of Operations, at info@root-legal.org.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Cover Letter: No more than two pages double-spaced. Include name and contact information; current law school or legal education; whether you are interested in a Miami-based position or a remote position; your interest in decarceration; why you want to work with ROOT Legal; and what experiences, skills, or attributes of yours make you suitable to work with ROOT.

• Resume: No longer than one page in length to reflect most recent work history. Previous internships and volunteer and organizing experience may also be included.

• Legal Writing Sample: no longer than five single-spaced pages or 10 double-spaced. This can be an excerpt from a longer writing.

Decisions: Decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

Help us fund programs that prioritize healing over punishment.

• Set up a monthly, quarterly, or annual recurring donation: these gifts are especially valuable as they allow us to devote even more of our resources to our programmatic work, while maintaining a reliable source of income.

  • Give via your Donor Advised Fund.

  • Request a matching donation from your employer. (They might also match your donor advised fund gift!)

  • Direct your RMD (your retirement account’s required minimum distribution) to ROOT Legal.

  • Make ROOT Legal a beneficiary of your estate, your donor advised fund, your insurance policies, etc.