Internship, Fall

2-3 yrs required

Full-time

No

San Francisco City Attorney’s Office Internship Program

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

Eligibility:

Students currently enrolled in an accredited law school are eligible to participate in one of the Office’s three 10-week internship programs that run in the spring, summer, and fall. 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.

Program Length:

Most internships run 10 weeks, but the Office can accommodate interns from 8-14 weeks. Generally, the spring internship begins mid-January and ends mid-April. The summer internship begins in early June and ends in early August. The fall internship begins in early September and ends in early November. Be sure to see Internship Program Schedule below for important dates relating to the program.

Compensation:

Volunteer: The volunteer internship is unpaid.
Clinical: A clinical internship is also unpaid, if approved by their law school.
Work Study: Work-study the interns must have federal work-study funds available and the City must have a current work-study contract with the intern’s law school. The City may not be the employer of work-study students. Work-study students may not work more than 20 hours per week during the school year. They may not work more than 40 hours per week during the summer. No overtime is allowed. Work-study students must not exceed their work-study award. The amount of the award is determined by the student’s financial need and is unique to each student.

Application Process:

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and brief legal writing sample to . The Office accepts applications on a rolling basis and will consider late applicants until all positions are filled.

Work Assignments:

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

Legal research, contract drafting and negotiation, litigation

Currently enrolled in an accredited law school

Email cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample to

Qualification and Experience Currently enrolled in an accredited law school

Legal