Spring 2024 Law Clerk (PT or FT) – No longer accepting applications

Position

NCYL seeks law students to support its Legal Advocacy Team (1 clerk) and Justice & Equity Team (2 clerks) during spring 2024. Under the mentorship of supervising legal or policy staff, clerks will work on projects impacting vulnerable children and youth. Clerks will contribute to policy advocacy and/or litigation with experienced civil rights attorneys. This position is a remote opportunity. As spring 2024 approaches, NCYL will continue to evaluate whether clerks will have the ability to complete any portion of the program in person.

The Justice and Equity Team

NCYL’s Justice and Equity Team works to transform the youth legal system so that it better embodies true justice and equity for children. The team advocates for community-based, health-centered alternatives to harmful system practices and build towards a culture in which the system treats children as children. The work we do prioritizes evidence-based solutions that are proven to decrease recidivism and meet children with empathy and care. The team engages in impact litigation in federal and state courts as well as policy development, lobbying, coalition building, and community organizing.

The Legal Advocacy Team

The Legal Advocacy team engages in impact litigation across all the issues on which NCYL works. The team brings systemic cases to improve systems that serve children and youth, often in collaboration with other public interest law firms and with support from pro bono partners. The Legal Advocacy 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.

Essential Functions of Law Clerks include but are not limited to:

• 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 
• Draft public record requests and review & organize request responses for opportunities for litigation and policy advocacy

Qualifications

• Second- or third-year law student
• Demonstrated understanding of NCYL’s mission and commitment to advocating for children and youth
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion 
• Belief that racism exists
• Minimum of 1 year of experience with and/or exposure to at least one of the following:  communities of color; low-income communities, or child- or youth-centered activities  
• Ability to commit 37.5 hours per week (full-time schedule), or at least 15-20 hours per week (part-time schedule), for a minimum of 10 weeks.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.  

Location

This position is remote.

Stipend

This is an unpaid volunteer position.

How To Apply

No longer accepting applications.

The National Center for Youth Law is committed to bringing on clerks who reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of our clients. Applicants who meet the above criteria with lived experience 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.