2027 Summer Intern - Child, Youth & Family Advocacy Project
About The Position
The Child, Youth & Family Advocacy Project at Public Counsel is an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, social workers, and advocates that address a variety of civil legal needs for children, youth, and their families. Our summer interns gain hands-on experience in both direct service and policy advocacy. Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.
Requirements
- Must be in your first or second year of law school.
- Submit a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample, all in PDF form (and a transcript, if available).
- Resume must reflect the law school you are currently enrolled in.
Nice To Haves
- Historically underrepresented students are especially encouraged to apply.
- Value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings.
- Consider addressing equity, inclusion, lived experiences, and client work experience in your cover letter.
Responsibilities
- Gain hands-on experience in both direct service and policy advocacy.
- Conduct client interviews remotely.
- Identify gaps in services and/or benefits.
- Analyze legal issues pertaining to foster children in dependency and adoption proceedings.
- Assist attorneys on adoption and benefits cases.
- Conduct research on legal issues.
- Help draft advocacy materials for general distribution to adopting parents and/or pro bono attorneys.
- Conduct client intake interviews.
- Navigate the legal software used to complete the required legal forms.
- Explain the relevant law and court procedures to pro per litigants.
- Observe court hearings.
- Evaluate the issues on each case.
- Draft pleadings.
- Conduct legal research to support direct services work and policy advocacy.
- Assist the client directly in resolving issues.
- Conduct intake interviews with youth.
- Conduct legal research to support direct services work, impact litigation, and policy advocacy.
- Assist the youth directly in resolving issues.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
Associate degree
