Law Student - Public Interest in Oakland, CA

Public Interest

Oakland, CA

Law Student - Public Interest in Oakland, CA

Law Student

No

Job Title: 2026 Tribal Partnership Clerkship

Job Responsibilities:
The Tribal Partnerships Program at the organization plays a crucial role in formulating strategies in collaboration with tribal and Indigenous partners. As part of this program, Tribal Partnerships attorneys engage in litigation, collaborate with other program and regional office attorneys, conduct outreach with Indigenous communities, and coordinate with other teams within the organization as needed. Summer Law Clerks will have the opportunity to work alongside several attorneys, contributing to case development and litigation strategy. Their responsibilities include drafting pleadings and briefs, conducting legal research, developing strategy and legal theories, gathering evidence, and attending client meetings and court proceedings. Additionally, the clerkship includes various programmatic offerings such as seminars with attorneys and guest speakers on current environmental issues, interactions with other local and regional environmental groups, and a job interview workshop.

Education and Experience Information:
Candidates must be enrolled in a . law school through fall 2026, meaning they should not be graduating before December 2026. The clerkship requires a commitment of ten weeks during the summer of 2026. Summer law clerks are expected to work from the . during their clerkship.

Salary Information:
The summer law clerk positions at the organization are paid positions. The organization provides a one-time stipend at the start of the clerkship in the amount of $1, per week. However, this amount is adjusted based on any external funding a student secures, such as through their law school’s summer funding program, and applicable taxes. The clerkship is designed to last for 10 weeks at full-time hours, which is hours per week.

Application Process:
Interested candidates must submit their complete application via Jobvite by 5:00 pm PT on September 1, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Each litigation team within the organization participates in clerk hiring, and candidates can submit applications to as many teams as they are interested in. Candidates should be prepared to respond to a September follow-up email requesting their ranked choice of the teams for which they have applied. Rankings should not be included within the Jobvite application.

Application Materials Requested:
- Resume
- Cover letter addressing:
1. Relevant aspects of the candidate's background not fully explained in the resume
2. Reasons for being drawn to the organization's mission and the litigation teams applied for
3. Particular environmental or public interest issues that inspire the candidate
- Additional documents:
1. A recent legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages that primarily reflects the candidate's work. A cover page indicating the extent of edits and feedback from others should be included.
2. Unofficial transcript

Finalists will be asked to submit two references, which may be law school faculty or legal professional, clinical, or volunteer supervisors.

Resources:
While identical applications for each team will be considered, it is recommended to tailor the cover letter to describe interest in that specific team. Additional information about the hiring process and tips for success can be found on the organization's website. If candidates experience any technical difficulties or require accommodations throughout the hiring process, they should contact the organization via email.