2027 Summer Law Clerk at Public Law Center

Public Law Center•Santa Ana, CA

9d•$6,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Public Law Center (PLC) is seeking law students for its Summer Law Clerk program. This program offers a hybrid work schedule in Santa Ana, California. Clerks will engage in client interaction, including new case intake interviews, follow-up calls, fact gathering, and presenting new cases. They will also be involved in legal research and writing, preparing case memos, correspondence, pleadings, and motions. Additionally, clerks will support pro bono attorneys by drafting manuals, samples, and educational presentations, and preparing cases for placement. Community education and outreach will involve researching legal issues, preparing client materials, and assisting with presentations. Specific project duties will be assigned based on available projects, which include Affordable Housing and Land Use Advocacy, Consumer Law, Family Law, Health Law, Housing & Homelessness Prevention, Immigration, Impact Litigation and Policy Advocacy, Mobilehome Advocacy, Small Business and Nonprofit Project, and Veterans Project. Some positions require Spanish speaking skills, and others prefer it. Compensation varies, with some positions being paid, some unpaid, and some allowing for academic credit or volunteering. PLC is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

Spanish speaker required for Family Law project
Spanish speaker preferred for Immigration project
Students who have completed Evidence and Civil Procedure may be eligible to make court appearances in Family Law

Responsibilities

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
Prepare opening case memos
Draft correspondence, pleadings, and motions
Assist in drafting manuals, samples, and educational presentations to support pro bono attorneys
Prepare cases for placement
Research legal issues for community education
Prepare client education materials
Assist in conducting presentations to clients
Assist in monitoring city actions for compliance with housing elements and land use laws
Research and investigate potential violations of land use laws
Assist with advocacy efforts to improve affordable housing production and land use policies
Work with community groups advocating for affordable housing and emergency shelters
Research and investigate fair housing issues and policies
Assist with ongoing litigation related to Housing Element and land use compliance
Assist with consumer matters, including debt collection, bankruptcy, frauds and scams, and identity theft
Assist with courthouse-based clinics for brief counsel and advice
Work on issues for older adults, including elder abuse restraining orders and assistance with financial scams
Assist with providing trauma-informed legal services in domestic violence, custody, divorce, child & spousal support, guardianship, and dependency adoption matters
Interview clients for family law cases
Attend legal clinics for family law cases
Prepare pleadings and legal briefs for family law cases
Write letters for family law cases
Provide advice and counsel to family law clients
Make court appearances (if eligible) for family law cases
Assist indigent persons with health insurance eligibility and coverage issues
Assist individuals with health coverage denials
Resolve medical billing problems
Navigate health care coverage eligibility (Medi-Cal, Covered California, Medicare, employer-sponsored plans)
Support clients with Independent Medical Review requests
Assist with access to health records
Assist with advance health care directives
Address Medi-Cal Estate Recovery questions
Ensure continuity of coverage and enforcement of patient rights
Assist individuals and families with housing-related issues, such as evictions, landlord-tenant disputes, reasonable accommodations for tenants with disabilities, and housing voucher/subsidy terminations
Draft pleadings and motions for housing cases
Write demand letters for housing cases
Provide advice and counsel to housing clients under attorney supervision
Assist attorneys in preparing for court hearings for housing cases
Assist victims of human trafficking, asylum seekers, victims of domestic violence, unaccompanied minors, individuals facing deportation proceedings, and others with immigration applications
Complete intakes for immigration cases
Assist individuals in completing applications at DACA, naturalization, and consultation clinics
Attend community and collaborative meetings for immigration cases
Shadow attorneys representing clients in immigration and state court proceedings
Assist in the preparation of pleadings, motions, and discovery requests for impact litigation
Gain experience in policy advocacy, including drafting regulatory comments and letters
Research legal issues and proposed legislation for policy advocacy
Assist mobilehome owners with legal issues arising out of their homeownership and/or tenancy
Conduct legal research and investigation for mobilehome cases
Write demand letters for mobilehome cases
Provide counsel and advice for mobilehome cases
Conduct litigation for mobilehome cases
Work on advocacy efforts for improvements to protections for mobilehome owners
Help mobilehome resident associations advocate for themselves
Assist community-based nonprofit organizations and small businesses with projects
Assist with corporate formation and compliance for nonprofits and small businesses
Assist with obtaining tax exemption status for nonprofits
Assist with drafting policy documents for nonprofits and small businesses
Review contracts for nonprofits and small businesses
Assist with employment issues for nonprofits and small businesses
Assist low-income veterans with legal services
Provide legal services on housing matters and eviction defense for veterans
Assist with government benefits applications and appeals for veterans
Assist with discharge upgrades for veterans
Assist with post-conviction relief for veterans
Attend and assist with legal clinics for veterans