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
Tanisha Ghosh
Trainee, Summer 2026
American University Washington College of Law
Tanisha Ghosh is a rising 3L at American University Washington College of Law, where she serves as president of the Health Law and Policy Student Association, mentors first-generation law students through the ADVANCE Coalition, and supports scholarship in public health law and sociology as a research assistant in the Health Law and Policy Program. In Spring 2027, she will join the Janet R. Spragens Federal Tax Clinic as a student attorney. Tanisha earned her Master of Public Health in Health Policy from Emory University and her Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion from University of Georgia. Her experience spans healthcare law and policy work with lobbying organizations, nonprofits and advocacy groups, reflecting her commitment to advancing healthcare access, equity and community-centered policy solutions. After completing her law degree, Tanisha plans to continue advocating for patients and communities at the intersection of health law and public policy.
Jillian Seay
Trainee, Summer 2026
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Jillian Seay is a senior at Notre Dame of Maryland University majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Law and Civic Engagement and History. Jillian Seay developed an interest in people with disabilities from her parents, Patrick and Lynette Seay, who are both special educators. She hopes to gain well-rounded exposure and learning opportunities during her internship at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) by participating in several of the MCDD’s projects, including the Community and Professional Development Training program. She is looking forward to learning how to translate scientific evidence into practice and effectively advocate for individuals with disabilities while building on her knowledge of health education. After completing her undergraduate degree, Jillian Seay plans to attend law school where she can continue to work and advocate for people with disabilities and their families.
Sydney White
Trainee, Summer 2026
University of Baltimore School of Law
Sydney White is a rising 3L at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina in 2023. Sydney’s commitment to disability rights and educational equity law is rooted in her own experience growing up with learning disabilities. She is passionate about advocating for individuals with disabilities and improving access to educational resources. Her interests include special education law and the intersection of disability and the justice system. Through her work with Project HEAL, she hopes to learn more about advocacy in schools, and advance more inclusive systems.