Law Student - Government in Ellicott City, MD

Government

Ellicott City, MD

Law Student - Government in Ellicott City, MD

Law Student

No

Job Title: Fall 2025 Law Clerk

Job Responsibilities:
Law clerks in the Post Conviction Defender's Division are tasked with a variety of responsibilities aimed at ensuring fairness in criminal convictions and upholding the integrity of the criminal justice system. Their duties include:

- Conducting legal research and analysis.
- Performing investigations related to cases.
- Writing legal memorandums, post-conviction petitions, and motions for modification.
- Interviewing incarcerated clients both in prison and through video conferencing.

Education and Experience Information:
Applicants for the Fall 2025 Law Clerk position must be current law students or recent law school graduates. Qualified candidates should demonstrate:

- A commitment to zealous and comprehensive public defense.
- The ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- The capability to work independently.

Salary Information:
These law clerk positions are unpaid volunteer roles. However, the organization supports externs seeking academic credit for their work or those applying for grants or other external funding opportunities.

Additional Information:
The organization provides a hands-on experience for law students, allowing them to assist in client-centered and team-based representation. This experience enables law clerks to engage in comprehensive advocacy and work closely with attorneys, investigators, paralegals, social workers, and other support staff.

Application Process:
Applications for the Fall 2025 Law Clerk positions are submitted through a centralized process, with final selections made by the Post Conviction Defender's Division. The application materials, including a resume, cover letter, list of four professional references, a writing sample no longer than 15 pages, and an undergraduate transcript, must be emailed within a couple of days of submitting the application form but no later than August 1, 2025. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The position requires in-person work, with all students expected to start the clerkship by September 2, 2025, and work for a minimum of 10 weeks. Law clerks are expected to commit to consistent days and hours for the duration of their clerkship.

Opportunities for law clerks are available during the spring semester (January-May), fall semester (September-December), and summer (May-August), with applications accepted on a rolling basis.