The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office offers a volunteer law clerk internship program throughout the year to students who have completed at least one full year of law school. The internship positions provide invaluable experience to individuals interested in a career in the field of criminal law.
Interns have the opportunity to work closely with prosecutors in a wide variety of areas of prosecution. Interns may also attend our in-house trainings. Students who have completed at least their first year of law school are placed with units where they will be involved primarily in legal research-related assignments (subject to attorney approval and supervision), including:
Internships are unpaid, and while the office does not require a full-time commitment, a minimum commitment of 16 hours per week is required.
The Certified Legal Intern Program of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office offers volunteer positions to law students who are interested in a career in the field of criminal law. Interns are expected to answer defense motions, conduct legal research, and appear in court with a supervising attorney. All Certified Legal Interns work closely with Assistant District Attorneys in all phases of prosecution. Interns may be assigned to work in any one of a variety of divisions within the office, as well as to any of the locations served by the office, according to staffing needs.
In addition to the Hall of Justice, branch offices are located at the Juvenile Youth Guidance Center, the Special Operations Department and the Community Justice Court. In an effort to broaden the legal experience, the intern is given the opportunity to rotate into different assignments within the office to assist in their legal proficiency and expertise in particular practice areas.
Students who apply for this program must be prepared to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week in their assignments. While consecutive days are desirable, they are not mandatory.
Eligibility Requirements:
The District Attorney’s Summer Law Clerk Program is designed to recruit the most qualified 2L law clerks and train them for highly skilled legal work within the office. This program is only offered in the summer, and only 2Ls are eligible to apply.
The program is designed as an intensive 12-week training program to provide 2L clerks with exposure to the different units within the office and the practical experience necessary to become effective litigators. Through the program, our Summer Clerks are asked to tackle demanding legal research and writing assignments, litigate motions, conduct evidentiary hearings, and assist attorneys in case preparation for trial. Additionally, Summer Clerks will receive extensive training to assist in their legal proficiency and expertise in particular practice areas.
A limited number of Summer Law Clerks will be eligible to receive a stipend for successful completion of their duties.
Eligibility Requirements:
The Certified Legal Intern Program of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office offers volunteer positions to law students who are interested in a career in the field of criminal law. Interns are expected to answer defense motions, conduct legal research, and appear in court with a supervising attorney. All Certified Legal Interns work closely with Assistant District Attorneys in all phases of prosecution. Interns may be assigned to work in any one of a variety of divisions within the office, as well as to any of the locations served by the office, according to staffing needs.
In addition to the Hall of Justice, branch offices are located at the Juvenile Youth Guidance Center, the Special Operations Department and the Community Justice Court. In an effort to broaden the legal experience, the intern is given the opportunity to rotate into different assignments within the office to assist in their legal proficiency and expertise in particular practice areas.
Students who apply for this program must be prepared to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week on their assignments. While consecutive days are desirable, they are not mandatory.
Please note that the 3L Certified Legal Internship Program is only offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Eligibility Requirements:
Please see the Summary of Application Deadlines for Law Students section for more information on upcoming Sessions.
All applicants must complete and submit the following materials in one combined .pdf file in the following order:
Email questions and application material to: SFDAInternship@sfgov.org
Spring 2023 Session Dates: January 23 – May 12, 2023 (16 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 9, 2022
Please note that the applications for Spring 2023 Session are closed.
Summer 2023 Session Dates: June 5 – August 25, 2023 (11 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 21, 2023
Please note that the applications for Summer 2023 Legal (1L, 2L, 3L). Internship Programs are closed.
Fall 2023 Session Dates: September 5, 2023 – December 8, 2023 (14 Weeks)
Application Deadline: July 29, 2023
California Government Code §§1125 through 1127 prohibits local agency officers and employees from engaging in activities that are incompatible, inconsistent, in conflict, or inimical with their agency employment. As a volunteer intern with our office, interns are bound by these sections of the Government Code. Students selected for any of the intern programs are advised that they may not perform any work (paid or unpaid) for any criminal defense attorney during the pendency of their internship with this office. This applies even if the criminal defense work is in a different county. Students who have other outside employment/incompatible activity during the pendency of their internship must disclose this to our office for review prior to accepting the internship.
Should an intern engage in outside employment/incompatible activity after commencing the internship, the intern must immediately advise the Internship Program Manager. If the outside employment/incompatible activity is deemed to fall within the prohibitions of California Government Code §1125 through 1127, the intern will not be able to remain in our program. If an intern has any questions concerning other employment/incompatible activity, they should contact the Program Director.
