LAAC seeks to fill all positions with people who share our values, including our organizational commitment to diversity. We encourage all interested individuals to apply — especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, or anyone belonging to any other federal or state protected category.
For employment opportunities at LAAC member organizations, please click here.
Employment Opportunities
Law Student Clerks
All law clerks will participate in projects in all of LAAC’s core areas, including advocacy, training, coordination, and technology. Although the specific projects on which the law students will work are subject to change, the overall work will contain some of the following types of projects.
LAAC generally accepts 1-2 volunteer law clerks for each season: summer, fall and spring. LAAC will, on a case-by-case basis, help students identify available outside funding.
Current Needs
LAAC will not be accepting volunteer (unpaid) law clerks for the summer 2019. If you are a law student who has financial support through your law school, or independent funding you may email info@laaconline.org to inquire about summer 2019 clerkship opportunities. If you are interested in clerking at LAAC and would like assistance identifying funding sources please also email info@laaconline.org.
Please check back for potential updates for fall 2019.
Nature of Work
All law clerks will participate in projects in all of LAAC’s core areas, including (1) trainings; (2) statewide coordination; and (3) using technology to share resources. Although the specific projects on which the law students will work are subject to change, the overall work will contain some of the following types of projects.
Advocacy
- Legal research and writing supporting LAAC’s current advocacy projects
- Legal memos on topics relevant to legal services programs more broadly
- Legislative analysis of pending bills affecting legal services and the courts
- Support to LAAC’s Advocacy Committee and Executive Director, as needed
- Support to LAAC’s Directing Attorney on amicus efforts
- Support to LAAC’s Research Attorney on research projects
Training
- Assistance preparing materials for the July Family Law and Self-Help Conference
- Organize existing training resources for new attorneys
- Support to LAAC’s Program Attorney on continuing legal education and trainings
Statewide Coordination
- Support to the LAAC Executive Director and Directing Attorney
Technology
- Work with the LAAC Program Associate to update content and postings to websites
- Draft original content intended for legal services attorneys
- Support to LAAC’s Program Attorney on technology in the law projects
Volunteer Law Student Pro Bono Opportunities
The work of Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) cannot be complete without the contribution of our volunteers. LAAC is currently looking for volunteers who can help us with our Legal Access and Language Access Project. For more information about volunteer opportunities, please email LAAC Program Associate Safia Kartoum at skartoum@laaconline.org, or call (510) 893-3000 x 102.
Legal Access Corps
The Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) is looking for Legal Access Corps volunteers, who will use LawHelpCA.org (California’s official statewide resource for self-help legal referrals and information) to provide direct, person-to-person help for low-income clients in a stressful and alienating legal situation. Volunteers will assist people with finding information on housing, immigration, disability, family law and more.
Volunteers gain valuable hours of public interest experience, practice sorting through complex legal subjects in plain language for an everyday person, and see the impact immediately.
After a few training sessions at our Oakland office, you can participate from any computer with internet access, making this a flexible opportunity for busy law students! Volunteers do not need to have any prior legal knowledge and will receive training, supervision, and support from LAAC staff. Volunteers do not provide legal advice.
We are looking for 4th year students, or recent graduates from undergrad program with a degree in legal studies and demonstrated interest in future legal career – interest in attending law school and or legal aid or law firm professional experience.
Or 4th year students, recent graduates, or graduate students with an interest in user experience, and website design and the intersection of the delivery of legal services.
Want to become a Legal Access Corps Volunteer? Click here to apply.
Language Access Project
The Legal Aid Association of California (LAAC) is looking for language volunteers who can translate Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietanemse on LawHelpCA.org, California’s official statewide resource for free legal referral and self-help. Volunteers will translate information regarding housing, immigration, disability, family law and more.
Volunteers will help break language barriers and increase legal access for thousands of low-income Californians. Volunteer will also gain valuable hours of public interest experience, practice sorting through legal aid resources and will able to see the impact immediately.
After an orientation and training at our Oakland office, you can volunteer from any computer with internet access, making this an opportunity flexible for your schedule! Volunteers do not need to have any prior legal knowledge and will receive training, supervision, and support from LAAC staff.
Want to become a Language Access Project Volunteer? Click here to apply.
Undergraduate Work Study Program
We traditionally hire one to two undergraduate, or graduate student work-study employees per year. If you are interested in becoming a LAAC work study employee, please email info@laaconline.org to see if we will have an opening in the next academic session.
If you are a University of California Berkeley student and you receive financial aid with a Federal Work-Study Program award as a part of your financial aid package, you can log in with your CalNet ID to search job listings. You may read more about the work study program here. You may search job postings by logging in here.
If you attend a different university with a Federal Work-Study Program and are interested in becoming a LAAC work study employee, please email info@laaconline.org to see if we will have an opening in the next academic session.
If you are interested in volunteering in the future, please contact info@laaconline.org. When we have a need for volunteers, we’re happy to see if you’re available!
Technology Fellow
LAAC is particularly interested in fellowship candidates who want to collaborate on simultaneous applications to more than one funder, and on access to justice technology legal aid projects in the following areas:
- LAAC seeks a full-time Legal Technology Fellow to work on our LawHelpCA website accessibility project. The fellow will work to implement changes to LAAC’s Drupal-based website LawHelpCA in conjunction with the website development team and the LAAC Program Attorney. Changes will include creation and improvement of a triage tool for the website, and implementation of best practices for readability and accessibility.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: LAAC seeks to make LawHelpCA.org a website that is accessible for everyone. LAAC strives to implement changes which will create a user-friendly and welcoming experience for all. LAAC seeks to consider people of every age, class, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, race, nationality, immigration, religion, sexual orientation, individuals with disabilities, or other characteristics when assessing access.
- The fellow will research current practices of California legal aid organizations regarding website maintenance and removal of barriers to access to services. The fellow will produce a paper, which will be made available to the California legal aid community, as to these findings and suggested best practices for improvements to legal aid online access for low-income and modest means Californians.
Other proposals also invited: While the above are the preferred focus areas, LAAC is open to project ideas that have a strong background or interest in technology to propose technology focused ideas.
LAAC is an equal opportunity employer. LAAC seeks to fill all positions with people who share our values, including our organizational commitment to diversity. We encourage all interested individuals to apply — especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender or anyone belonging to any other federal or state protected category.
LAAC works collaboratively and intensively with prospective fellows to develop projects that address access to justice legal issues. LAAC is committed to fully supporting and advising the applicant during the application process to ensure that a high quality and well-informed application is compiled and submitted.
Qualifications:
- J.D.
- Project management and/or event coordination experience
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to write/edit well and produce quality publications with strong attention to detail
- Enthusiasm for supporting the statewide network of nonprofits
- Expertise in Word, Excel, Google applications, online databases
- Experience in template-based web pages required
- Previous experience working with low-income and underserved communities preferred
- Knowledge of web-based legal information and intake systems
- Familiarity with Drupal 8 an asset, but is not required, comfort in exploring and willingness to learn this platform is a must
- Familiarity communicating with website developers and software engineers a plus
Application Deadlines:
Applications for fellowship sponsorship by LAAC must be submitted to LAAC by Monday, June 24, 2019. LAAC will interview interested candidates in July.
In addition, the collaborative applications are due directly to the fellowship organization by their designated deadlines. Their applications are due to Skadden by September 15, 2019; and EJW by September 20, 2019.
Applicant Instructions:
Please Send: (1) a cover letter (i) explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position as well as (ii) describing relevant work and volunteer background, and (iii) how your personal and professional experience would specifically contribute to LAAC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, (2) your resume, (3) three references and their contact information via email to careers@laaconline.org.
Submit your LAAC applications by email to careers@laaconline.org; and include in the subject line “Attn: 2020-2022 Fellowship Application [YOUR LAST NAME]”. For questions, contact LAAC’s Program Attorney, Lauren Lofton (contact below).
Contact Information:
Lauren Lofton, Program Attorney
510-893-3000 x 107
LLofton@LAAConline.org