Spring or Summer 2023 - Law Clerk with Public Rights Project
Who We Are
Public Rights Project seeks current law students for law clerk placements in Spring 2023 and for Summer 2023. Law clerks will work remotely.
Public Rights Project is a public interest legal nonprofit launched in 2017 to close the gap between the promise of our laws and the lived reality of marginalized communities. We support state, local, and tribal governments to implement a scalable, community-accountable model to enforce their residents’ legal rights. We work closely with a network of more than 100 governments across the country.
What We Do
Public Rights Project works with progressive state, local, and tribal government attorneys (including Attorneys General, District Attorneys, and City Attorney offices). We help them identify promising legal theories to enforce their residents' legal rights, and then marshal the resources to take action. We also run an external fellowship program to embed early-career attorneys in government and to train attorneys currently working in government.
PRP's litigation work includes representing local governments in strategic litigation. For example, For example, PRP serves as counsel to progressive Michigan DAs who refuse to enforce the state's archaic abortion ban and are affirmatively litigating to establish the right to reproductive healthcare under the Michigan constitution. Additionally, we are currently litigating a case with local partners on behalf of local governments in Florida to challenge a budgeting provision in a state law that takes away budgeting power from local municipalities. Recently, PRP's attorneys defeated Governor De Santis' motion to dismiss the case in Florida trial court. PRP also organizes and files amicus briefs on behalf of local governments on issues like housing, reproductive, and workers’ rights. Across issue areas, we advocate against state efforts to abusively preempt local government actions that protect historically underserved communities.
What We’re Looking For
A law clerk position with Public Rights Project would be ideal for students interested in cutting-edge impact litigation, public service, and creative strategies to advance core civil rights, the rights of workers and consumers, and more. Law Clerks will have an opportunity to work directly with the Chief Program Officer, Legal Director, Staff Attorneys, Legal Fellows, multiple cities and states across the country, and community and nonprofit partners. Law clerks will also have an opportunity to contribute to case generation, development, and strategy in order to shape the direction of Public Rights Project, and gain valuable experience in organizational and program design.
What You Bring
- Excellent research and writing skills
- Passion for social justice and public service lawyering
- Experience with legal advocacy through clinics, non-profits, government, and/or plaintiff-side litigation
- Experience working with underserved communities in and out of the legal context
- Self-motivation and the ability to structure your time effectively
- Time Commitment:
- Spring law clerks must be able to commit to a minimum of 10 hours per week for the Spring Semester (hours may be adjusted if the student’s law school uses the quarter system).
- Summer law clerks must be able to work 40-hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks
How to Apply
Interested individuals should submit an application via our careers page that includes the following materials:
- Cover letter (no more than 1 page)
- Resume
- Writing sample (no more than 10 pages). Please include a cover page that explains if the work is solely your own or if you received any edits/contributions from others, including a professor or supervisor.
We value diversity and welcome potential law clerks from all backgrounds. If you require accommodations during the application process please include this information in your application.
Funding for Spring Internship: During the spring term, this is an unpaid opportunity. Law clerks must either obtain credit from their law school or secure outside funding. Public Rights Project will work with interns to do so.
Funding for the Summer Internship: Public Rights Project has limited funding available to pay law clerks. We will work with selected interns to secure school funding or other external funding. Interns can alternatively apply for school credit, if it is available.
Deadline for Spring Internships: We will begin reviewing applications on 11/01/2022 and will review applications received after that date on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.
Deadline for Summer Internships: We will begin reviewing applications on 1/03/2023 and will review applications received after that date on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.