Law Student Internship, Project Assistant

Our Mission The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land.
A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges.
Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide.
With locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Phoenix; and Beijing, we organize our work around six goals: low-carbon, climate-resilient communities and regions; efficient and equitable tax systems; reduced poverty and spatial inequality; fiscally healthy communities and regions; sustainably managed land and water resources; and functional land markets and reduced informality.
Affordable Housing at the Lincoln Institute Lincoln Institute’s affordable housing effort is designed to address systemic failures in national housing policies, lending practices, and land policies that are responsible for growing income and wealth inequality across the U.
S.
The blatant racial and ethnic discrimination that was built into local, state, and federal housing programs and practices generated unacceptable housing outcomes for people of color that are experienced today not only in wealth disparities, but in social, educational and health differences that result in life expectancy differentials measured in decades.
The Lincoln Institute brings unique expertise in illuminating the role that land policies-land use planning, zoning, taxation and valuation-play in exacerbating inequality through housing markets.
More importantly, we identify and promote remedies for inequality that begin with, but do not end at land policy reform.
For example, with the Ford Foundation, we provided initial support of the National Community Land Trust Network (which became Grounded Solutions Network) to mobilize providers of permanently affordable housing into a national movement.
Recently, we launched the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition bringing together twenty of the leading U.
S.
affordable housing advocacy organizations to urge the U.
S.
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to improve their performance in serving families that cannot access traditional mortgage markets.
We recently inherited the Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I'm Home) network of 4,000 practitioners, policymakers, and homeowners working to transform the homes of 22 million people into valuable family assets and help them achieve economic security and equity.
Lincoln Institute’s affordable housing work focuses on four interventions in the sector: (1) home quality; (2) long-term land control; (3) housing finance; and (4) public policy reforms.
Position Overview The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is looking for a law student to join the Federal Affordable Housing team.
This position will support these projects: the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition (UMMC) and the Innovations in Manufactured Housing (I’m HOME).
As a member of this team, you will complete a wide range of independent and directed research activities; support convenings and activities; and provide administrative support for both networks.
This internship is a part-time, temporary position with a max of 20 hours/week in January and scheduled to end in May 2024, which pending performance and project needs, could extend into the early summer with a closer to full-time schedule.
This internship is a temporary position which means it is limited to 1000 hours.
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is looking for a law student to join the Federal Affordable Housing team.
This position will support these projects: the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition (UMMC) and the Innovations in Manufactured Housing (I’m HOME).
As a member of this team, you will complete a wide range of independent and directed research activities; support convenings and activities; and provide administrative support for both networks.
This internship is a part-time, temporary position with a max of 20 hours/week in January and scheduled to end in May 2024, which pending performance and project needs, could extend into the early summer with a closer to full-time schedule.
This internship is a temporary position which means it is limited to 1000 hours.
What You’ll Do Tasks specific to I’m Home include: Conducting research and developing state-level policy fact sheets on the existing legal and regulatory landscape for manufactured housing as well as on pending manufactured housing bills in state legislatures.
These tasks will require familiarity with Westlaw and/or LexisNexis.
Help develop the network by working with manufactured homeowners and other stakeholders at the local level; and Assist with preparations for the I’m HOME annual meeting in Chicago in September 2024.
Tasks specific to the UMMC include: Research topics of interest to the UMMC such as how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can enhance their support to underserved mortgage markets including borrowers of color, manufactured housing, rural housing, and affordable housing preservation and infrastructure; and a wide range of other emergent, priority research areas.
Help maintain our Impact Tracking Tool and take the lead on building it out to include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s new Equitable Housing Finance plans.
Coordinate the UMMC to help it achieve more from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s required strategic planning efforts.
Help to write for a variety of audiences and contexts, including case studies, memos and white papers, meeting agendas and materials, web content, and social media posts.
Plan event content, draft event materials, and coordinate with speakers and the Events team Work with other internal teams to advance the work of UMMC and I’m Home.
Be a main point of contact for the general public, addressing inquiries and directing them appropriately.
Provide administrative support to both initiatives, including scheduling of meetings of networks/communities of practice, managing contracts as needed, and other administrative support tasks.
Assist with other activities as requested.
Compensation Overview And Additional Information The hourly market range for this role is $20 depending on level of education and years of experience.
This position is a remote position.
Unfortunately, we are not registered for employment in every state and can only proceed with applicants who reside in one of the following states: AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, MA, NC, TX What You’ll Need • Currently pursuing either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or have commensurate community-based experience and should have a distinct interest in affordable housing, community development or planning • People from marginalized communities or who may have personally experienced affordable housing discrimination or know people who have, are particularly encouraged to apply • Professional written and communication skills • Strong organizational skills • Ability to independently problem solve • Communication and coalition building skills with an ability to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders • Professional and positive attitude