[Hiring] Summer Legal Intern / Law Clerk @Youth Law Center

Role Description

Are you interested in pursuing a public interest law career and advocating on behalf of vulnerable young people? Would you like to learn about strategies for advancing systemic change in child welfare and juvenile justice, beyond just seeking individual remedies for clients? The Youth Law Center invites current 1L and 2L students to envision their possible place in the youth justice advocacy landscape by applying to join us as a summer 2027 legal intern.

Since 1978, YLC has advocated on behalf of systems-involved young people to end traumatic practices and unsafe conditions in California and nationally. YLC has led the field to transform the child welfare and juvenile justice systems to be truly child-focused and research-informed through the use of a variety of advocacy tools:

• Impact litigation
• Policy reform
• Media advocacy
• Collaborative system-change projects
• Training and technical assistance
• Public education

Our summer interns will contribute to a variety of YLC's ongoing and emerging advocacy projects, with a specific goal of developing at least one strong writing sample for future job and funding applications. Interns will enjoy the benefits of working with multiple attorneys in our highly collaborative, welcoming, and dedicated team, and can look forward to a rich summer program including:

• Training through our annual summer seminar series
• Participation in YLC team meetings and strategic advocacy meetings
• Close one-on-one supervisory support and feedback from YLC attorneys
• Opportunities to meet with YLC staff to discuss career interests
• Completion of one or more substantial research and writing projects
• Potential opportunities to observe legislative hearings and visit juvenile facilities
• Invitations to YLC and other summer intern events

Examples of recent intern projects include:

• A youth-facing written resource on the rights of pregnant and parenting foster youth
• A research memo providing a national overview of foster care transitions policies
• A handbook on prudent parent standards for foster youth participation in social justice and activism
• A research memo on civil claims available for mistreatment in juvenile facilities
• Comments to promulgated regulations in multiple states regarding licensing of child welfare and juvenile justice facilities

Qualifications

• Excellent research and writing skills
• Able 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
• Personal, lived experience in child welfare and juvenile justice systems is a plus
• Interest from individuals from historically marginalized identities

Requirements

• Full-time (37.5 hours/week), 10-week internship position
• Position may begin as early as the final week of May 2027
• Fully remote work, can be performed from anywhere within the contiguous United States
• Set schedule from 9am – 5pm in local time zone

Funding

• This position will be an unpaid, volunteer position
• Interns are expected to apply for summer funding through their school's public interest funding program
• YLC will provide supplementary equity funding as needed

To Apply

• Submit a cover letter explaining your interest in working with YLC
• Include a resume with a list of three professional/academic references
• Provide a legal writing sample
• Law school transcripts are not required
• Contact [email protected] with questions, but do not send application materials to this address
• Final deadline for applications is March 5th, 2027

Equal Opportunity Employer

YLC values a diverse, inclusive workforce, and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees.

Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Read our full DEI statement here.