2027 Summer Legal Intern / Law Clerk

Youth Law Center • San Francisco, CA

99d • Remote

About The Position

The Youth Law Center (YLC) invites current 1L and 2L students to apply for a summer 2027 legal intern position. YLC advocates on behalf of systems-involved young people to end traumatic practices and unsafe conditions in California and nationally, and to ensure young people receive the necessary supports and opportunities to become thriving adults. YLC utilizes impact litigation, policy reform, media advocacy, collaborative system-change projects, training and technical assistance, and public education to transform child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The organization is committed to centering the perspectives and voices of those most impacted by the systems they advocate to change. YLC does not provide direct legal representation to individual youth and families. Summer interns will contribute to YLC's advocacy projects, focusing on developing strong writing samples. The program includes training, participation in meetings, one-on-one supervision, opportunities to discuss career interests, research and writing projects, potential observation of legislative hearings and visits to juvenile facilities, and invitations to intern events.

Requirements

• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Ability to stay directed and focused in a fully remote work environment.
• Experience and/or interest in child and youth advocacy.
• Desire to explore nonprofit legal aid and systemic advocacy environments as a possible career path.
• Current 1L or 2L student status.
• Ability to work a set schedule from 9am – 5pm in their local time zone and be fully available during those hours.
• Must apply for summer funding through their school's public interest funding program and/or other funding programs.

Nice To Haves

• Personal, lived experience in child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
• Personal lived experience motivating a legal advocacy career.
• Belonging to historically marginalized identities disproportionately represented in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to a variety of YLC's ongoing and emerging advocacy projects.
• Develop at least one strong writing sample for future job and funding applications.
• Participate in YLC team meetings, strategic advocacy meetings, and other workgroups.
• Complete one or more substantial research and writing projects.
• Potentially observe legislative hearings and visit juvenile facilities (as available and depending on location).

Benefits

• Training through annual summer seminar series (overviews of child welfare and juvenile justice systems, strategic approaches to youth and child advocacy, public interest law opportunities, key systemic issues).
• Close one-on-one supervisory support and feedback from YLC attorneys.
• Opportunities to meet with YLC staff to discuss career interests and opportunities.
• Supplementary equity funding as needed after exhausting other funding options to ensure equal total summer funding.
• Invitations to YLC and other summer intern events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed