Since 2008, Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law) at Kennedy Krieger Institute has partnered with law schools to provide meaningful internship and externship opportunities for their highest achieving students. A legal internship with Project HEAL is a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative public interest legal project through real world experiences helping underserved populations.

Project HEAL trainees have the opportunity to conduct legal research and draft memoranda on special education law; conduct client intakes and interviews; copy educational and medical records and organize client files; draft complaints for the Maryland State Department of Education for alleged violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004); draft presentations and trainings for Kennedy Krieger healthcare professionals and educators, patients and families, and community groups; attend advocacy group meetings on a monthly basis and attend bi-monthly Maryland Special Education Lawyers meetings.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Mallory Legg (Legg@KennedyKrieger.org). The application windows are as follows:

  • Spring Semester: September 1st - November 1st
  • Summer Semester: December 15th - February 15th
  • Fall Semester: May 15th - July 15th

If accepted, trainees must provide immunization records, including covid-19 and flu vaccines, and may be required to receive titers as part of a health screening.

Current Trainees

Shalva Davidovich

Shalva Davidovich

Trainee, Spring 2024
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Shalva Davidovich is a second-year law student at University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She earned her undergraduate degree in legal studies from Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. Shalva first became interested in special education because her younger brother is hearing impaired. After working in special education for many years, Shalva became more interested in disability advocacy and went to law school to target some of the roadblocks she witnessed from the legal side. After graduating from law school, Shalva plans to work in special education advocacy in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. During her time at Project HEAL, Shalva hopes to interact with clients in a meaningful way, and research solutions for challenges faced by students with disabilities.

Negheen Guiv

Negheen Guiv

Trainee, Spring 2024
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Negheen Guiv is a third-year student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She earned her undergraduate degree in Romance languages from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she also ran workshops on literacy and education at Title 1 schools in Prince George’s County. When she graduates this May, Negheen is excited to pursue a career in public service and continue to explore her interest in alternative dispute resolution.

Kylie Rogers

Kylie Rogers

Trainee, Spring 2024
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Kylie Rogers is a third-year law student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Prior to law school, she attended the University of Mississippi, where she earned her bachelor's degree in English with a minor in legal studies. Her younger brother, who has autism, is the one who first inspired her passion and interest in advocating for the disability community. Kylie has worked previously as a law clerk in the Special Education Division of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and as a student attorney for the National Association of the Deaf. While working at Project HEAL, Kylie hopes to learn more about both the client-based and legislative aspects of disability and special education advocacy. After graduating from law school, she will be working in special education and family law in Rockville, Maryland.

Additional Information