Job Title: Fall 2025 Law Clerk
Job Responsibilities:
Law clerks serving with the Post Conviction Defender's Division are tasked with ensuring fairness in criminal convictions and protecting the integrity of the criminal justice system by representing indigent inmates during post-conviction proceedings throughout Maryland. Their responsibilities include:
- Conducting legal research and analysis.
- Performing investigations.
- Writing legal memorandums, post-conviction petitions, and motions for modification.
- Interviewing incarcerated clients both in prison and via video conference.
- Engaging in significant research and writing, witness preparation, investigations, and trial preparation as part of a comprehensive advocacy approach.
- Being fully integrated into trial teams, working closely with attorneys, investigators, paralegals, social workers, and support staff to ensure clients receive the best representation possible.
Education and Experience Information:
Eligible candidates for the Fall 2025 Law Clerk position are current law school students or recent law school graduates. Qualified applicants must demonstrate:
- A commitment to zealous and comprehensive public defense.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- The ability to work independently.
Salary Information:
These positions are unpaid volunteer roles. However, the organization supports externs seeking academic credits for their work and sponsors grant or other outside funding applications where applicable.
Additional Information:
- Law clerk opportunities are available during the spring semester (January-May), fall semester (September-December), and summer (May-August).
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with final selections made by the Post Conviction Defender's Division.
- The position is in person, with all students required to start by September 2, 2025, and work for at least 10 weeks.
- The application process involves submitting a resume, cover letter, list of four professional references, a writing sample not exceeding 15 pages, and an undergraduate transcript via email.
- Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline of August 1, 2025, will not be considered.
- Law clerks are expected to commit to consistent days and hours throughout their clerkship, supporting the mission for tenacious advocacy and zealous representation of clients.
