About Public Law Center

Founded in 1981, The Public Law Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free legal services to low income residents and other nonprofits in Orange County. Last year, Public Law Center staff and volunteers provided over 65,000 hours of free legal services in handling over 4,500 cases benefiting low-income children, adults and seniors. The estimated value of this work is roughly $60 million in just the past three years. Our services include counseling, individual representation, community education and strategic policy advocacy and impact litigation to challenge societal injustices.

We will accept at least one law clerk per project.

General Job Duties

• Client Interaction:  Perform new case intake interviews; contact clients for follow-up through interviews and telephone calls; perform fact gathering; present new cases at weekly Case Acceptance meetings.
• Legal research & writing:  Prepare opening case memos; draft correspondence, pleadings, and motions.
• Pro Bono Support:  Assist in drafting manuals, samples, and educational presentations to support pro bono attorneys working on PLC cases.  Prepare cases for placement.
• Community Education and Outreach:  Research legal issues; prepare client education materials; assist in conducting presentations to clients.

Positions will be on a hybrid schedule.

Specific Project Duties

In addition to the general duties described above, each law student will be assigned to the following project:

Family Law

Assist with providing trauma-informed legal services to litigants with domestic violence, custody, divorce, child & spousal support, guardianship, and dependency adoption matters.  Work includes interviewing clients, attending legal clinics, preparing pleadings and legal briefs, writing letters, and providing advice and counsel to clients.  Students who have completed Evidence and Civil Procedure may be eligible to make court appearances.  SPANISH SPEAKER PREFERRED.

Qualifications

• First, second, or third year (part-time) law student
• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income or disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities
• Excellent research and writing skills
• Sensitivity and ability to work with victims of domestic violence and other sensitive populations

Time Commitment

• Full-time for 10 weeks, exact dates to be released in February 2025

Compensation

• PLC requires all students to seek outside funding through their law schools and other available funding opportunities. PLC offers $6000 stipends for law clerks who are unable to secure PILF grants via their school or other outside funding. Alternatively, applicants may seek academic credit through their school’s externship program.

Next Steps

• Applicants progressing to the later stages of the interview process will be required to submit a writing sample to demonstrate their communication skills and expertise

Public Law Center is dedicated to building a diverse team and fostering a fair and welcoming work environment. To view our complete DEI statement, please click here.

Public Law Center is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, please contact Public Law Center.

PLC will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

PLC regrets that it is unable to sponsor employment Visas or consider individuals on time-limited Visa status for this position.