Job Title: Fall 2025 Law Clerk
Job Responsibilities:
The **Members Only** offers law clerk positions for current law students to gain hands-on experience in the field of criminal defense. Law clerks are integrated into the trial teams and work closely with attorneys, investigators, paralegals, social workers, and other support staff. The primary responsibilities of law clerks include:
- Conducting legal research
- Researching and writing motions and memoranda
- Engaging in case planning
- Performing investigations
- Coordinating with witnesses
- Preparing for and participating in trials, hearings, and/or sentencings
These tasks provide law students with comprehensive advocacy experience, ensuring that OPD clients receive the best representation possible. Law clerks are expected to perform significant research and writing, as well as engage in witness preparation, investigations, and trial preparation.
Education and Experience Information:
This opportunity is available to current law school students or recent law school graduates. The program is designed to offer practical, real-world experience to those pursuing a career in law, specifically within the field of public defense. The program is open to students at various stages of their law school education, including 1L, 2L, and 3L students.
Salary Information:
These law clerk positions are unpaid volunteer roles. However, OPD supports externs seeking academic credits for their work and can sponsor grant or other outside funding applications where applicable. This allows students to potentially receive financial compensation through external sources, such as educational grants or scholarships, while gaining valuable experience.
Application Process:
Law clerks can join OPD during the spring, summer, or fall, with applications accepted on a rolling basis. Final selections are made by the District Offices, and candidates can express their preferences for specific offices throughout the State of Maryland. It's important for applicants to be specific about their placement preferences, as only the Montgomery County and Baltimore City offices are accessible via public transportation.
Interested candidates must complete an application form and submit the following materials via email: a resume, cover letter, a list of four professional references, a writing sample no longer than 15 pages, and an undergraduate transcript. The email subject line should indicate "Application for Fall 2025 Law Clerk." Application materials must be sent within a few days of submitting the form, but no later than August 1, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
This is an in-person position, and all students must start the clerkship by September 2, 2025, committing to work for at least 10 weeks. Law clerks are required to work consistent days and hours throughout the duration of their clerkship to support the mission of tenacious advocacy and zealous representation of clients.
