Law Student - Government in Glendale, CA

Government

Glendale, CA

Law Student - Government in Glendale, CA

Law Student

No

Job Title: Senior Law Clerk, Fall

Job Responsibilities:
The Senior Law Clerk (SLC) position with the Public Defender's Office is a 16-week internship program designed to provide recent law school graduates with hands-on experience in a legal environment. The program's ultimate goal is to prepare candidates for permanent employment as a Deputy Public Defender (DPD) I. During the internship, SLCs will engage in various tasks under the mentorship and supervision of senior-level DPDs. Key responsibilities include:

- Conducting legal research, studying, interpreting, and applying laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in the preparation of cases, opinions, pleadings, and briefs.
- Organizing extensive legal discovery, reports, documents, and potential case exhibits for trials.
- Conducting pretrial reviews of case files, including witness subpoenas and other evidence gathered for trials.
- Conducting preliminary interviews of potential complainants in criminal cases to determine if sufficient cause exists to support prosecution.
- Analyzing legal documents such as pleadings, affidavits, court orders, transcripts, statutory codes, and appellate decisions.
- Preparing various legal documents, including memoranda summarizing court decisions, administrative board decisions, state statutes, ordinances, and opinions.
- Communicating with witnesses, experts, clients, and other interested parties to perform duties and provide information to judges, attorneys, and the public concerning the work of the department.
- Interviewing clients to obtain factual, biographical, and financial information.
- Scheduling witnesses for court appearances and interviews and preparing them and clients in courtroom procedures and protocol.

Education and Experience Information:
To be eligible for the Senior Law Clerk position, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

Option 1:
- Hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an approved or accredited law school.
- Be registered to take the first available bar exam following law school graduation.
- Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program at the time of appointment.

Option 2:
- Be currently enrolled in law school and have successfully completed the second year or equivalent.
- Be eligible for certification through the California State Bar (Bar) Practical Training of Law Students (PTLS) program at the time of appointment.

Candidates must provide documentation such as a diploma or transcripts to prove educational qualifications. Additionally, candidates must have registered for or sat for the first eligible bar exam and must register as a law student with the California State Bar. Provisional licensees are not eligible for this examination.

Salary Information:
The position offers an hourly wage of .

Additional Information:
- The Senior Law Clerk program is conducted twice a year, in the Fall and Spring.
- The internship provides an opportunity to participate in casework in specialized areas such as Post-Conviction, Law Enforcement Accountability, and Immigration.
- Candidates will gain experience in preparing a wide variety of criminal cases and may participate in hearings and jury trials.
- The position requires a valid California Class "C" Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation to carry out job-related essential functions.
- The role involves light physical effort, including occasional light lifting, bending, stooping, or squatting.
- The assessment process for the position consists of an evaluation of Training and Experience (T&E), weighted 100%.
- Candidates who achieve a passing score will be placed on an eligible register for a period of six months.
- The resulting eligible register will be used to fill vacancies within the Los Angeles County Law Offices of the Public Defender.
- The application process is conducted entirely online, and candidates must ensure that their application is complete and accurate.
- All County workforce members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, with exceptions for qualifying medical or religious reasons.
- The County of Los Angeles is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.
- The County is a Fair Chance employer and complies with all federal and state disability laws.

Candidates interested in applying for the Senior Law Clerk position should submit their application online and ensure all required documentation is provided within the specified timeframe.