The PDS law clerk program gives law students an opportunity to assist attorneys in all aspects of case preparation. PDS offers 20 – 30 law clerk positions each semester and 30 clerkships during the summer.
Law clerks perform legal research, draft motions, interview incarcerated and institutionalized clients, perform field investigation, represent juveniles in institutional disciplinary hearings, respond to inmate letters request legal assistance, attend discovery conferences, prepare pretrial motions, attend trials, parole hearings and appellate arguments and perform a wide range of research and case preparation duties.
Law clerks usually work with a group of attorneys in the Trial, Appellate, Mental Health, Special Litigation, Civil Legal Services, Community Defender or Parole Divisions. We strongly prefer second and third-year law students, although those first-year students with relevant pre-law experience are encouraged to apply. In addition to very interesting and challenging work, during the summer we have a week long substantive training class as well as a trial advocacy skills building series taught by experienced trial attorneys. As of summer 2010, PDS will no longer accept split summer students, and requires that all clerks commit to a minimum of 11 weeks.
Although most clerkships are volunteer, PDS offers a very limited number of paid summer law clerkships ($15.00/hour) for law students who have:
- criminal defense or public interest experience (both legal and non-legal) and a strong desire to become a public defender;
- strong academic credentials and writing ability; and
- special skills that would greatly assist in improving our ability to meet the needs of our clients (e.g., sign language proficiency, Spanish fluency or experience working with indigent people in the justice system).
Law clerkships must be 40 hours per week during the summer and at least 15 hours per week during the academic year.
We are now accepting applications for the Fall 2009 and Summer 2010 law clerk program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until our program is full.
To submit your application materials, click here:
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