2027 Summer Intern - Child, Youth & Family Advocacy Project

Public Counsel•Los Angeles, CA

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.
In your cover letter, identify which team(s) described below you would like to work with.
Discuss why you are interested in interning with Public Counsel generally and with Child, Youth & Family Advocacy Project specifically.
We are especially interested in receiving applications from historically underrepresented students consistent with our active, ongoing commitment to increasing equity and inclusion.
We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings.
Please consider addressing these topics in your cover letter, especially if not reflected in your resume.
If you would like to be considered for a summer internship with another project at Public Counsel, please submit a separate application to that project.
You can only be hired to work with one project during the summer program.
Trained to conduct client interviews remotely.
Trained to identify gaps in services and/or benefits.
Trained to analyze legal issues pertaining to foster children in dependency and adoption proceedings.
Trained to conduct client intake interviews.
Trained to navigate the legal software used to complete the required legal forms.
Trained to explain the relevant law and court procedures to pro per litigants.
Trained to conduct intake interviews.
Trained to evaluate the issues on each case.
Trained to draft pleadings.
Trained to conduct legal research to support direct services work and policy advocacy.
Trained to conduct intake interviews with youth.
Trained to evaluate the issues on each case.
Trained to conduct legal research to support direct services work, impact litigation, and policy advocacy.

Nice To Haves

Consider addressing lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings in your cover letter, especially if not reflected in your resume.

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.
Observe court hearings, and may have opportunities to appear in court if certified.
Conduct intake interviews with youth.
Assist the youth directly in resolving issues.