SPRING & SUMMER 2024 LAW CLERKS
About Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF)
As one of the most enduring civil rights institutions on the West Coast, LCCRSF works to dismantle systems of oppression and racism and to build an equitable and just society. Formed in 1968 to bridge the legal community and the Civil Rights Movement, we also invest in legal fellows and support a network of over 1,000 active pro bono attorneys.
At LCCRSF, our Racial Justice, Economic Justice, and Immigrant Justice programs run an integrated advocacy team where we build campaigns that combine direct services, impact litigation, and political advocacy to protect and promote civil rights. Our civil rights work seeks to build power for communities of color, low-income people, immigrants, and refugees in the Bay Area and throughout California. We are in this work for the long haul. Our goal is to make this work sustainable, to rest as needed and take care of each other and our communities so we can be fierce in the face of power. Learn more at www.lccrsf.org.
Your Work
Law clerks are an integral part of LCCRSF. Under the supervision of an attorney, law clerks prepare legal memoranda, conduct legal research, perform other litigation and advocacy related legal assignments, and conduct client interviews. Law clerks may have the opportunity to participate in direct legal services, impact litigation, and/or policy advocacy.
Law clerks work in one or more of our issue areas. If you have a particular interest in a current project or issue area, please indicate this in your cover letter.
The Racial Justice Program leads policy development and impact litigation that directly supports the people and movements fighting for an end to police brutality and violent police practices. We also work to provide direct legal services for a variety of issues facing low-income communities of color, with a focus on ending the criminalization of poverty.
The Immigrant Justice Program works with immigrants who face significant barriers to fair treatment and civic engagement by challenging particularly unjust systemic processes. The Program’s strategy involves advocating directly for asylum seekers, engaging in impact litigation, and working to end immigration detention. We only accept applicants who are fluent in written and spoken Spanish for the Immigrant Justice Program.
The Economic Justice Program works to advance economic justice and civil rights through our signature direct services program, Legal Services for Entrepreneurs, which works with entrepreneurs who are starting or have existing businesses. Informed by the challenges and/or obstacles they encounter, we advocate for policies like the Public Banking Option Act that favorably impact the diverse local economy.
Qualifications:
Current law student
Understanding of and commitment to LCCRSF’s mission
Experience and/or a demonstrated commitment to racial justice, civil rights, and/or social justice organizing
Understanding of systemic racism, and we particularly encourage BIPOC applicants with lived experience to apply
Law clerks may be considered in the future for post-graduate fellowships at LCCRSF, including our Thurgood Marshall Fellowship and sponsorship for Skadden, Equal Justice works, and Justice Catalyst Fellowships.
Summer law clerks are ordinarily expected to work 40 hours per week for 10 weeks. During the semester, law clerks are expected to work at least 20 hours per week, but preference may be given to full time semester/quarter clerks. We’re currently remote with our Embarcadero office available for optional use by fully vaccinated people.
LCCRSF requires applicants for summer law clerkships to apply for funding from their law schools or outside sources, and we will support those applications however we can. If you are not able to get external funding, LCCRSF will provide you with a $7500 stipend, or will supplement your external funding up to the amount of $7,500. Please note that stipends are not currently available to fall and spring externs.
To Apply
Positions are open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants should submit 1) a thoughtful cover letter; 2) a resume; and 3) three references by email to [email protected] (put “Spring 2024 Extern or Summer 2024 Law Clerk” in the subject line.) Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible as decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area thrives as an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. BIPOC, LGBTQ+ candidates, people of all gender identities, persons with disabilities and individuals over 55 are encouraged to apply.
Qualifications:
Current law student
Understanding of and commitment to LCCRSF’s mission
Experience and/or a demonstrated commitment to racial justice, civil rights, and/or social justice organizing
Understanding of systemic racism, and we particularly encourage BIPOC applicants with lived experience to apply
Positions are open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants should submit 1) a thoughtful cover letter; 2) a resume; and 3) three references by email to [email protected] (put “Spring 2024 Extern or Summer 2024 Law Clerk” in the subject line.) Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible as decisions are made on a rolling basis.