Law Student 2027 Term Opportunities

The Public Interest Law Project (PILP) is currently seeking applications from law students interested in joining our summer law clerk and extern programs for the Spring 2027 term and Summer 2027.

The Public Interest Law Project (“PILP”)
Since 1996, PILP has provided crucial litigation and advocacy support to local legal services and public interest law programs throughout California. Responding to the elimination of federal funding for state and national legal services support centers, PILP was established to ensure that local legal services programs could continue to participate in major litigation and advocacy on behalf of low-income people.

Today, PILP is one of California’s premier legal services support centers and works to advance racial and economic justice for low-income communities and communities of color by building the capacity of legal services organizations through impact litigation, trainings, publications, coalition building, and systemic advocacy. Our current priorities include work to: increase and preserve affordable housing; fight displacement; eliminate discriminatory zoning; support unhoused communities; prevent homelessness; and expand access to public benefits, income support, and supportive services.

What you will gain as a law clerk with PILP
PILP law clerks receive mentoring and training from our highly skilled staff attorneys and gain exposure to the mechanics of litigation and state and local systems change advocacy while developing a better understanding of the legal barriers facing low-income and other underrepresented communities in California. PILP engages our law clerks in many phases of complex litigation. For example, we have involved clerks in all aspects of preparing an affordable housing/fair housing case for trial, including drafting discovery motions, participating in strategy sessions with co-counsel, and settlement negotiations with opposing counsel. Other law clerks have researched the legislative history and case law related to various provisions of affordable housing and public benefits laws; drafted portions of trial court and appellate briefs; assisted taking depositions; and drafted procedural and substantive legal memoranda, motions, and stipulations. Law clerks have also gone into the field, interviewing witnesses and drafting declarations for submission to the court.

Law clerks will also be considered for future fellowship opportunities for those who qualify.

Funding
Qualifying summer law clerks are eligible to directly receive an educational reimbursement of up to $5,250, with the possibility of additional stipend funding subject to PILP’s receipt of supplementary grant funds. (Full time summer law clerks will be required to show proof of payment on tuition or other educational expenses within the last 12 months to receive the educational reimbursement.)

Law clerk externs joining the program during the Fall or Spring terms will be eligible to receive school credit as available but will not receive direct funding.

Deadlines
The deadline to apply for the summer 2027 program is Friday, March 5, 2027. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

For all other law clerks planning to volunteer outside of summer, applications can be submitted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

We offer either a fully remote schedule, or a hybrid schedule with up to 2 (two) in-person days working from our downtown Oakland office.

How to apply for a clerkship with PILP
Candidates should email application materials as word or pdf attachments to lawclerks@pilpca.org. If you prefer an alternative method of submitting these materials please contact us at the above email address. Please provide a cover letter that includes a brief statement of interest, résumé, writing sample (no more than 10 pages), and at least two professional references. In your cover letter, please also indicate your law school year and any past or current public interest law experience.

The Public Interest Law Project (PILP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage people of color, women, people with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQ people, and individuals from other underrepresented groups to apply. It is PILP’s policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to establish and maintain equal employment opportunities to all employees, volunteers, and applicants on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

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