Law Clerkships for Law Students

The PDS Legal Clerkship Program allows law students to assist attorneys in all aspects of case preparation. PDS offers approximately 65 summer law clerk positions and 35 semester positions.  Depending on the division into which a clerk is hired, responsibilities may include:

  • Perform legal and case-preparation research
  • Draft motions
  • Interview incarcerated and institutionalized clients
  • Represent juveniles and adults in institutional disciplinary hearings
  • Respond to inmate letter requests for legal assistance
  • Prepare pre-trial motions
  • Attend trial, parole hearings, and appellate arguments

We strongly prefer second and third-year law students, although those first-year students with relevant pre-law experience are encouraged to apply after December 1st of their 1L year. During the summer we host a weeklong substantive training class as well as a trial advocacy skills building series taught by experienced trial attorneys.

PDS accepts limited first term split summers on a case by case basis, as well as inviting students who can commit to at least seven weeks after mid-August into our ‘second summer’ program. School year law clerks must commit to at least 12 hours per week and be enrolled in an externship program, summer law clerks must commit to 40 hours per week.

 

Look here to see if we have any available clerkship opportunities