Appeals Unit Law Clerk

The writs and appeals unit of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District represents indigent criminal defendants in their appeals to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, and in collateral litigation in federal district court.  If you are interested in working in appellate criminal defense, we have unpaid, full-time summer clerkships available for up to two law students.

For ten weeks, the clerks will work closely with appellate lawyers at our downtown L.A. office on many aspects of their work—reviewing records and brainstorming issues for appeal, drafting memos on potential appeal issues, developing appellate strategy in communication with clients, and potentially drafting sections of appellate briefs. You’ll also get a chance to talk to incarcerated clients about their appeals and participate in moots for Ninth Circuit arguments. Through it all, you’ll get both informal training through attorney mentors and more formal training through sessions offered to all of the office’s summer clerks.

Time Commitment

Summer appellate clerks are expected to volunteer for 40 hours a week for ten weeks.  If you wish to participate in the program for fewer than ten weeks, please describe your availability in the cover letter submitted with your application.

Qualifications

Applicants to the program must be attending an accredited law school.  The program seeks applicants with strong written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated interest in indigent defense.

Obtaining School Credit

Many law schools will award academic credit to participants in the law clerk program. The requirements and procedures vary depending upon the specific school’s guidelines. You would be responsible for coordinating between your school and our office to ensure that any paperwork and other requirements are met.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, résumé, writing sample, and unofficial transcript at  Current Openings - FPDCDCA .

For the summer program: Direct applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with a final deadline of the last day in January.  We recommend that you submit your materials as early as possible.