INTERNSHIP
The Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender Law Clerk Program introduces selected law students to the operations of the office, the courtroom and the criminal justice system. Law clerks are taught the mechanics of criminal defense work and experienced APD attorneys serve as mentors. The program is designed to provide law students with a real-life experience of what it is to be a public defender in the APD Office.
Over the course of the term, clerks will be assigned projects from attorneys throughout Los Angeles County but will be stationed in various branches throughout the county. Responsibilities include assisting with intake interviews in misdemeanor and felony cases, interviewing witnesses and family for bail review hearings, reviewing and organizing discovery, researching legal issues and preparing memorandums of law. Certified law students will have an opportunity to make appearances on the record.
Fall and Spring law clerk positions will last approximately 12-14 weeks and will be part-time requiring a minimum of sixteen hours a week. The Summer law clerk position is a full-time, 40 hours a week, clerkship lasting 10 weeks beginning the first week of June. Law School Graduates who are awaiting bar results are eligible for Post Bar Clerkships. Post Bar clerks are paid positions (dependent on funding). The program is full time, 40 hours per week, in the Fall and Spring. The Fall program begins late August and ends the Friday after bar results are posted. The Spring program begins early March and ends the Friday after bar results are posted.
Our program is small, and outside of OCI/SCPICD, we only accept law clerk applications from October 1st through March 31st or until offers are filled. During this period, we interview candidates for our Summer, Fall and Spring positions.
We are looking for a diverse group of law students in good academic standing who are highly motivated, demonstrate a strong work ethic and can maintain the highest ethical standards of confidentiality with respect to case details and conversations. Candidates must understand the mission and objective of the Alternate Public Defender to provide the highest quality defense to each appointed client and exhibit a strong background in service to their community.
All inquiries and communications should be directed to lawclerkinfo@apd.lacounty.gov.
Interested applicants should email A SINGLE PDF with their cover letter and resume in that order beginning October 1st. Please title your PDF with your last name, followed by first name and the initials of your law school. For example, Chew Robyn UCSF. Post Bar positions for Fall and Spring will be posted on the Los Angeles County, Department of Human Resources website and you must apply through them at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty
Fall and Spring law clerk positions will last approximately 12-14 weeks and will be part-time requiring a minimum of sixteen hours a week. The Summer law clerk position is a full-time, 40 hours a week, clerkship lasting 10 weeks beginning the first week of June. Law School Graduates who are awaiting bar results are eligible for Post Bar Clerkships. Post Bar clerks are paid positions (dependent on funding). The program is full time, 40 hours per week, in the Fall and Spring. The Fall program begins late August and ends the Friday after bar results are posted. The Spring program begins early March and ends the Friday after bar results are posted.
Our program is small, and outside of OCI/SCPICD, we only accept law clerk applications from October 1st through March 31st or until offers are filled. During this period, we interview candidates for our Summer, Fall and Spring positions.
We are looking for a diverse group of law students in good academic standing who are highly motivated, demonstrate a strong work ethic and can maintain the highest ethical standards of confidentiality with respect to case details and conversations. Candidates must understand the mission and objective of the Alternate Public Defender to provide the highest quality defense to each appointed client and exhibit a strong background in service to their community.
All inquiries and communications should be directed to lawclerkinfo@apd.lacounty.gov.
Interested applicants should email A SINGLE PDF with their cover letter and resume in that order beginning October 1st. Please title your PDF with your last name, followed by first name and the initials of your law school. For example, Chew Robyn UCSF. Post Bar positions for Fall and Spring will be posted on the Los Angeles County, Department of Human Resources website and you must apply through them at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty
