Capital Habeas Unit Law Clerk — Summer Program

Job overview

The Capital Habeas Unit Law Clerk — Summer Program is onsite in Los Angeles, CA. Compensation is not specified; the program is a volunteer commitment of 40 hours per week for ten weeks. The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California offers students the opportunity to work on death penalty cases in its Capital Habeas Unit. The clerk supports litigation through factual investigation, legal research, drafting claims for federal habeas petitions, and writing sections of appellate briefs. The program also includes exposure to case-management meetings, Ninth Circuit argument moots, trials, and appellate arguments; it is not offered during the school year or as a post-bar program.

What you'll do

• Investigate factual bases for claims
• research criminal and constitutional law issues
• draft claims for federal habeas petitions
• write sections of appellate briefs
• observe case-management meetings
• participate in moots for Ninth Circuit arguments
• attend trials and oral arguments when available.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

capital habeas unit

law clerk

summer program

full-time volunteer commitment

los angeles ca

federal public defender

death penalty cases

habeas litigation

legal research

appellate briefs

indigent defense

40 hours per week

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Why this role

The ten-week summer program begins with a two-week training boot camp and is open to students attending accredited law schools. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in indigent defense.

About the employer

Federal Public Defender, Central District of California is hiring for this role. Industry: Legal Counsel and Prosecution. Sector: 92.