Law Clerks - San Diego Office

Law Clerks - San Diego Office

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall
Paid, volunteer and clinical positions available

Disability Rights California is a nonprofit public interest law firm which is federally mandated to protect the legal, civil and service rights of Californians with disabilities. Established in 1978, we served Californians with developmental disabilities such as mental retardation, autism and other severe disabilities. In 1986, we expanded our services to Californians with psychiatric disabilities. We now serve all Californians with disabilities – physical, psychiatric, and developmental.

Over the years, we have been involved in important class actions and represented individuals in litigation involving the rights of individuals with disabilities – including the right to live in the community, children’s rights to special education and related services, and the right to consent to one’s own medical treatment.

Law clerks will carry a diverse workload that will help develop traditional legal skills, as well as skills beneficial to working with clientele in a legal services environment. Law clerks will also gain substantive knowledge regarding the systems and laws that affect the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Law clerks will have the opportunity to:

  • Interview clients and consumers
  • Provide information on self-advocacy
  • Conduct legal research and produce legal writing
  • Represent clients in mediations and at administrative hearings
  • Provide assistance to people with psychiatric disabilities who are incarcerated in psychiatric institutions, to ensure the enforcement of their federal, state, constitutional and statutory rights
  • Assist clients in filing charges of discrimination with U.S. Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Education, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • Investigate serious, systemic and potentially life-threatening abuse and neglect in state and private facilities serving people with psychiatric and developmental disabilities
  • Conduct trainings on the law
  • Take part in multi-cultural outreach.

Although some paid positions are available, preference is given to work study, volunteer and clinical/externship students. In addition, attorneys at Disability Rights California are willing to assist students develop grant proposals and fellowship applications.

Clerks work approximately 12 weeks per term. During the school year, clerks are expected to work a minimum of 10 to 15 hours per week. Summer clerks work full-time, 37.5 hours per week. Also, volunteer attorneys and post-graduate law clerks are welcome.

To apply, send a resume, writing sample and references to:

Ann Menasche
Law Clerk coordinator 
Disability Rights California
1111 Sixth Avenue, Suite 200 
San Diego, CA 9210