2025 Bill Grimm Memorial Summer Clerk Program
The Position
National Center for Youth Law
The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) works to amplify youth power, dismantle racism and other structural inequities, and build just policies, practices, and culture in support of young people. Our efforts advance justice through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation's approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every young person thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.
William Lee “Bill” Grimm, Senior Director at the National Center for Youth Law, was a public impact attorney who worked for 43 years transforming and redeeming some of the most troubled child welfare systems in America. To honor him and his powerful legacy, in partnership with his family and friends, we have created the Bill Grimm Memorial Summer Clerk Program. Read more about Bill here.
Position
NCYL seeks 7-8 clerks to support its various teams during summer 2025. Under the mentorship of supervising legal or policy staff, summer clerks will volunteer on projects impacting low-income children and youth. This position is a remote opportunity. If a clerk lives within commuting distance to NCYL’s Washington, DC or Oakland, CA offices, they would be welcome to utilize office space during the summer.
The National Center for Youth Law is committed to hosting clerks who reflect the racial and cultural diversity of our clients. Students of color, those who will increase the cultural diversity of NCYL, and those with personal experience in our practice areas are strongly encouraged to apply.
The following teams* will host summer clerks in 2025:
Collaborative Responses to Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CRCSE)—1 policy clerk (law or graduate student)
Compassionate Education Systems (CES)—1 policy clerk (law or graduate student)
Generalist Litigation—1-2 law clerks
Justice and Equity—2 law clerks
Mental Health—1 law clerk
Youth Justice—1 law clerk
Responsibilities of Summer Law Clerks may include but are not limited to:
Research and write legal and/or policy memoranda
Assist in ongoing impact litigation efforts (e.g., reviewing discovery responses, drafting discovery requests, helping with deposition preparation, researching, and drafting motions or pleadings, and contributing to fact/case development by speaking with existing or potential plaintiffs, co-counsel, and/or community partners)
Assist with administrative and legislative policy campaigns
Participate in community partnership work
Other support of ongoing impact litigation efforts
Responsibilities of Summer Policy Clerks may include but are not limited to:
Research novel issues within youth law and policy
Analyze and interpret data related to youth systems
Develop, collect, and disseminate policy briefs and other resources to state and local stakeholders
Support legislative policy and/or budget campaigns
Participate in state and local coalitions and provide technical assistance to community partners
NCYL’s summer law clerk program also includes various programmatic offerings, such as virtual seminars with attorneys, policy staff and guest speakers.
Qualifications for all Summer Clerk applicants:
Graduate student (e.g., master’s or PhD candidate) or rising second- or third-year law student as of the Summer of 2025
Knowledge and understanding of and commitment to NCYL’s mission
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
At least one year of experience with and/or exposure to at least one of the following: communities of color; low-income communities; child- or youth-centered activities
Demonstrated ability to work independently and complete multiple projects
Excellent communication skills
Ability to commit 37.5 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks between early June and mid-August 2025
Stipend
NCYL will ensure summer clerks receive $7,500.00 to help with cost-of-living during the summer by supplementing funds clerks raise from their college, university, law school, or other sources. Clerks are expected to apply for, secure, and submit documentation regarding all funding for which they are eligible. NCYL will not provide supplemental funding for students who are receiving academic credit for their efforts at NCYL.
Note to colleges, universities and law schools: NCYL will not provide supplemental funding to students who fail to receive the same summer funding available to students volunteering, interning or clerking at institutions that do not provide any summer funding. This means that, if a student does not apply for available funds from their institution or another source, NCYL will not supply funding. The student may apply but get turned down; once proof of application is supplied, NCYL will likely provide the stipend.
How To Apply
Applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled or until November 19, 2024. Priority will be given to applications received before November 19, 2024. Applicants must submit the following:
Resume (not including GPA)
Cover letter describing your particular interest in volunteering for NCYL (including any specific issue areas of interest) and understanding of NCYL’s mission
Writing sample (5-7 pages) that demonstrates legal or analytical skills
NCYL will not participate in regional or school-based career fairs taking place after the November 18 deadline if all clerk spots have been filled. All students are encouraged to apply as early as they are permitted to do so by their schools.
Applicants who meet the above criteria with lived experiences within any of our practice areas, including Black, Indigenous, or other people of color, are strongly encouraged to apply.
It is the policy of NCYL to provide equal employment opportunities to all Applicants (including Employees) regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding, national origin, age, abilities/disabilities, neurotypicality, socioeconomic status, veteran status, marital status, prior convictions, or any other protected classifications under federal, state, or local law.
*Brief Team Descriptions:
Collaborative Responses to Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CRCSE) – This team’s goal is to reduce the number of children and youth who experience commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families who are victimized. The clerk’s role would be focused on policy, community engagement, and research.
Compassionate Education Systems (CES) – This initiative aims to improve the educational outcomes of young people experiencing homelessness. This clerk will assist in developing and executing CES’s coalition and legislative priorities and activities.
Generalist Litigation – This team seeks to develop new impact litigation on behalf of children and youth in a changing landscape characterized by increasing attacks on the civil rights of young people. The role will offer the opportunity to contribute to litigation in the areas of education, child welfare, health, mental health, reproductive equity, juvenile justice, and immigration. This clerkship will be primarily litigation focused.
Justice & Equity – This team’s work seeks to end the school-to-prison pipeline and court fees and fines that perpetuate ongoing and long-lasting racial harm for youth of color and their families. This clerkship will be split between litigation and policy assignments.
Mental Health – The team engages in policy advocacy to expand mental health education and to normalize and improve access to quality mental health care in supportive school and community environments. It also builds tools, resources, and training and engages in direct partnerships with health providers and professionals so they can understand the law and how to best serve children and youth.
Youth Justice – This team’s campaigns are driven by the voices and needs of young people directly impacted by the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and include policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, leadership development, and a range of strategies aimed at reducing reliance on the legal system. This clerkship will be primarily policy focused.