Federal, state and local government agencies and public interest organizations are among the best source of internship and externship opportunities for Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University students. Below is a partial listing of government agencies and public interest organizations that you may want to consider for semester or summer internships or externships.
Please note that internships with government agencies and public interest organizations are, more often than not, unpaid. You may want to pursue academic credit for such an internship through Hofstra Law’s Externship Program. Alternatively, you may want to explore with the Office of Career Services options for obtaining funding for your internship through a variety of fellowship programs.
Government Agencies
- Mental Hygiene Legal Service
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
- New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
- New York State Attorney General’s Office
Divisions within the New York City office include: Medicaid Fraud and Health Care
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services is the U.S. government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. There are a number of divisions within HHS that hire health care attorneys.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC is a division of Health and Human Services that responds to health emergencies. It conducts research and investigations in order to prevent and control all health threats, diseases, disabilities, injuries and workplace hazards. In 2000, the CDC Public Health Law Program was established to improve the health of the public through law. One of the program’s strategic goals is to develop legal preparedness of the public health system to address terrorism and other national public health priorities.
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
The CMS is a division of Health and Human Services that ensures effective, up-to-date health care coverage, reimburses health care providers and promotes quality care for beneficiaries.
- Food and Drug Administration
The FDA is an agency of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, etc. Regulatory enforcement is carried out by consumer safety officers within the Office of Regulatory Affairs, and criminal matters are handled by special agents within the Office of Criminal Investigations.
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorney
Several DOJ divisions address business issues, including the Antitrust, Civil, and Criminal Divisions, as well as the Office of Diversion Control.
Public Interest Organizations
- Center for Medicare Advocacy (D.C.)
Provides education, advocacy and legal assistance to help elders and people with disabilities obtain necessary health care.
- Center for Reproductive Rights (N.Y.)
A global legal advocacy organization dedicated to reproductive rights, with expertise in both U.S. constitutional and international human rights law.
- Community Health Law Project (N.J.)
A nonprofit advocacy and legal services organization dedicated to serving the needs of low-income people with disabilities in New Jersey.
- Continuum Health Partners, Inc. (N.Y.)
The parent company of four major nonprofit teaching hospitals in the New York City area (Beth Israel Medical Center, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Long Island College Hospital and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary). The Legal Department serves as in-house counsel for all four hospitals and provides a diverse range of legal services to hospital administrators and clinical leadership, in areas including corporate transactions, real estate, labor, corporate and regulatory compliance, contracts, litigation, patient care, medical staff and psychiatric hearings.
- Families USA (D.C.)
Dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.
- Medicare Rights Center (N.Y.)
Policy, advocacy, impact litigation and individual cases.
