Internship, Summer 2024

2-3 yrs required

Contract, Part-time

No

Overview of the San Francisco City Attorney Internship Program

The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office offers an Internship Program to law school students during the spring, summer and fall. Interns have the opportunity to work on a variety of legal assignments under the direction and supervision of experienced deputy city attorneys, as well as take part in client meetings, trials, court hearings, and more. The Office also offers a robust program of events, tours and lectures to give interns an inside-view of important and sometimes surprising work required of lawyers for a city as innovative, fast-growing and unique as San Francisco.

Eligibility

Students currently enrolled in an accredited law school are eligible to participate in the City Attorney’s intern program.

Types of Internships

The City Attorney’s Office offers three types of internships: volunteer, clinical and work-study.

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

Internship Program Schedule

The following is the most up-to-date schedule of deadlines and other key dates for the San Francisco City Attorney Internship Program. All interns must attend the orientation for their session. However, the office can be flexible as to the program length depending on individual student needs.

Spring Internship:
Application Deadline: December 15
Orientation (mandatory): January 10
Program: January 10 to April 9 (minimum 8-10 weeks)

Summer Internship:
Application Deadline: April 15
Orientation (mandatory): June 3
Program: June 3 to August 9 (minimum 8-10 weeks)

Fall Internship:
Application Deadline: July 15
Orientation (mandatory): September 8
Program: September 8 to November 12 (minimum 8-10 weeks)

How to Apply

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and brief legal writing sample to .

Internship Teams

We aim to pair students with a practice team whose work is in line with the student’s professional goals and interests. We ask applicants to identify three practice teams of interest in their application materials, although the Office does not guarantee that applicants will be placed with one of their preferred teams. Descriptions of the legal teams are available here.

Benefits of the San Francisco City Attorney Internship Program

The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office offers an Internship Program to law school students that provides 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. Interns work with attorneys on their assigned practice team who provide ongoing professional feedback and keep interns involved in the Office’s broader attorney-client relationship with city departments, commissions and officials. 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.

Additionally, interns receive training on how to use the computer network, attend an office orientation, which explains the office’s role in City government, office structure and procedures, and have access to an extensive legal library, a librarian, and a full range of electronic research materials. The office also encourages deputies to mentor interns and provide constructive feedback. Interns typically work closely on projects with at least two to three attorneys. Additionally, the team’s intern coordinator works to ensure the intern has a manageable workload, is learning from assignments, and is receiving feedback. The Office also encourages a diverse applicant pool, welcomes qualified applicants of all backgrounds, and awards positions based on fair and open competition.

Conclusion

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 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. Interns have the opportunity to work on a variety of legal assignments under the direction and supervision of experienced deputy city attorneys, as well as take part in client meetings, trials, court hearings, and more. The Office also offers a robust program of events, tours and lectures to give interns an inside-view of important and sometimes surprising work required of lawyers for

Legal research, writing, analysis, communication, teamwork, organization, time management, attention to detail, critical thinking, problem-solving, client interaction, trial experience, deposition experience, public speaking, event planning

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