Internship, Fall

2-3 yrs required

Full-time

No

San Francisco City Attorney's Office Internship Program

The San Francisco City Attorney's Office's Internship Program offers students an opportunity to work in an award-winning municipal law office that is nationally recognized by the American Bar Association for outstanding excellence. The City Attorney's Office practices civil law and provides high-quality, consistent, and objective legal advice to policymakers and vigorously represents the City in civil litigation. The Office provides legal services to over 100 departments, boards, commissions and offices that comprise the City and County of San Francisco’s municipal government.

The City Attorney’s Office seeks interns that intend to emerge as leaders in government and public-interest law. The Internship Program is designed to help interns gain practical knowledge and experience in municipal law and government affairs. The Program provides participants with a robust and meaningful work experience by creating opportunities for interns to learn, engage, and participate in the Office’s wide array of legal work.

The City Attorney’s Office currently offers two internship programs:

Law School Internship Program

We believe that diversity in our office is crucial to successfully performing the variety of work we are entrusted with as the City’s attorney. Being able to draw on different perspectives allows us to be at the forefront of legal issues both locally and nationally. We recognize that much work remains to be done to celebrate diversity in the legal profession, and are committed to continuing our role in contributing to that effort, starting with our internship programs. The City Attorney’s Office encourages a diverse applicant pool, welcomes qualified applicants of all backgrounds, and awards positions based on fair and open competition. Read more here about our efforts to address racial equity and enhance diversity at the City Attorney’s Office.

Law School Internship Program

The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office offers a 10-week internship program to students currently enrolled in an accredited law school. Once accepted to the Office’s Internship Program, participants are assigned to one of 20+ practice teams that are organized by practice area. Descriptions of the Office’s legal teams are available here.

Interns work on a variety of legal assignments under the direction and supervision of deputy city attorneys, who also serve as mentors. Each practice team designates at least one deputy city attorney to serve as an Intern Coordinator, who works to ensure that participants benefit from their assignments, are engaged in team and client interactions, and are fully immersed in the daily duties of the Office. Depending on their assignments, interns can take part in client meetings with department staff and elected officials; trials, court hearings, and depositions; public meetings and closed sessions with city commissions and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors; and press conferences related to the Office’s work. Legal Interns also benefit from events, tours and lectures that the office schedules for interns every season.

Special programming offers an inside-view of important and sometimes surprising work required of lawyers for a city as innovative, fast-growing and unique as San Francisco. Past programming has included:

Tours of the Fine Arts Museums in San Francisco (FAMSF), which include the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor.
Fireboat tours by the . Fire Department, which highlight its preparedness for modern maritime emergencies and its historical role in major disasters like the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes.
Observing hearings in federal court, followed with a Q&A with a presiding judge and clerks.
Tours of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) facilities, highlighting the SFPUC’s efforts to protect public health and the environment.
Tours of City Hall’s dome, Recreation & Parks Department’s facilities, the Probation Department’s Juvenile Hall, the City’s 911 Call Center, San Francisco International Airport’s facilities, and more!


Overview of the San Francisco City Attorney's Office Internship Program

The San Francisco City Attorney's Office Internship Program offers students an opportunity to gain practical knowledge and experience in municipal law and government affairs. The Program provides participants with a robust and meaningful work experience by creating opportunities for interns to learn, engage, and participate in the Office’s wide array of legal work.

The City Attorney’s Office currently offers two internship programs:

Law School Internship Program

We believe that diversity in our office is crucial to successfully performing the variety of work we are entrusted with as the City’s attorney. Being able to draw on different perspectives allows us to be at the forefront of legal issues both locally and nationally. We recognize that much work remains to be done to celebrate diversity in the legal profession, and are committed to continuing our role in contributing to that effort, starting with our internship programs. The City Attorney’s Office encourages a diverse applicant pool, welcomes qualified applicants of all backgrounds, and awards positions based on fair and open competition.

Law School Internship Program

The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office offers a 10-week internship program to students currently enrolled in an accredited law school. Once accepted to the Office’s Internship Program, participants are assigned to one of 20+ practice teams that are organized by practice area. Descriptions of the Office’s legal teams are available here.

Interns work on a variety of legal assignments under the direction and supervision of deputy city attorneys, who also serve as mentors. Each practice team designates at least one deputy city attorney to serve as an Intern Coordinator, who works to ensure that

N/A.

Legal research, legal writing, public speaking, client interaction, risk management, financial analysis, leadership, diversity and inclusion efforts, policy making, government affairs, time management, organization, teamwork, attention to detail, adaptability, flexibility, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, multitasking, ability to work under pressure, ability to work independently, proficiency in Microsoft Office, knowledge of legal databases and resources, knowledge of municipal law and government affairs, ability to manage and prioritize assignments, ability to work with diverse teams and clients, ability to provide and receive constructive feedback, ability to handle confidential information, ability to learn and adapt quickly, ability to meet deadlines, ability to handle complex legal issues, ability to research and analyze legal issues, ability to communicate complex legal concepts in a clear and concise manner, ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, ability to work with minimal supervision, ability to maintain a positive and professional attitude, ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and colleagues, ability to think creatively and innovatively, ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, ability to anticipate and address potential issues proactively, ability to comply with ethical and professional standards, ability to adhere to confidentiality and privacy policies, ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, ability to adapt to changing priorities and tasks, ability to work independently and as part of a team, ability to follow instructions and meet expectations, ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and integrity, ability to work with diverse populations and communities, ability to demonstrate cultural competency and sensitivity, ability to understand and navigate complex legal and government systems, ability to advocate for clients and represent their interests effectively, ability to maintain professionalism and composure in high-stress situations, ability to handle and resolve conflicts and challenges, ability to continuously learn and improve skills and knowledge.

being able to draw on different perspectives allows us to be at the forefront of legal issues both locally and nationally. tours of city hall’s dome, recreation & parks department’s facilities, the probation department’s juvenile hall, the city’s 911 call center, san francisco international airport’s facilities, and more!
still accepting applications for summer 2024

learn more about the program and how to apply here. orientation (mandatory): june 3, 2024
program: june 3 to august 9, 2024 (minimum 8-10 weeks)

how to apply

to apply, email a cover letter, resume, and brief legal writing sample to catintern. orientation (mandatory): june 3, 2024
program: june 3 to august 9, 2024 (minimum 8-10 weeks)

how to apply

to apply, email a cover letter, resume, and brief legal writing sample to . how do i apply?

to apply, email a cover letter, resume, and brief legal writing sample to catintern. how do i apply?

to apply, email a cover letter, resume, and brief legal writing sample to . typically, we host approximately twenty-five interns in the fall and spring and upwards of thirty-five in the summer. interns typically work closely on projects with at least two to three attorneys. we encourage intern candidates to state a team preference in their cover letter, however, final assignments are based on office needs. the office typically hires attorneys with two to three years of experience

Qualification and Experience Currently enrolled in an accredited law school, eligibility to participate in the internship program, strong academic background, excellent written and oral communication skills, interest in municipal law and government affairs, commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts, ability to work a minimum of 12 hours per week during the spring and fall, availability to work a minimum of 20 hours per week in the summer, ability to work a flexible schedule including occasional evenings and weekends, ability to attend mandatory orientation and program events, ability to work in the United States, willingness to learn and take on new challenges, strong research and analytical skills, ability to work collaboratively and independently, ability to adapt to changing priorities and tasks, ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and integrity, ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, ability to comply with ethical and professional standards, ability to adhere to confidentiality and privacy policies, ability to maintain a positive and professional attitude, ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and colleagues, ability to think critically and creatively, ability to anticipate and address potential issues proactively, ability to follow instructions and meet expectations, ability to handle sensitive and complex legal issues, ability to advocate for clients and represent their interests effectively, ability to maintain professionalism and composure in high-stress situations, ability to handle and resolve conflicts and challenges, ability to continuously learn and improve skills and knowledge.

Legal