Finding Public Interest Work
Although many public interest employers do post job opportunities with our student job postings, most do not and prefer that interested students pro-actively contact them about potential law clerk opportunities with their organization. Here are some ideas for locating a public interest law clerk position:
• Pick up a copy of the “Green Book” from Career Services, which contains listings and descriptions of public interest non-profit legal employers in Oregon and Washington.
• Check out PSLawNet, a national database of public service employers: www.pslawnet.org
• Review the employer listings in Serving the Public: A Job Search Guide, Vol. 1 - USA - A Harvard Law School publication listing public interest employers and potential funding sources (available for check out from the Career Services Resource Library). This is a particularly good resource for looking for opportunities outside of Oregon.
• Talk with the Career Services counselors about your areas of interest. They may be able to suggest particular organizations or alums working in your areas of interest. In particular, consider making an appointment with the Public Interest Law Coordinator.
• Do some pro bono volunteer work through the Pro Bono Program. Often, volunteering for an organization can lead to an ongoing law clerk position. Contact the Public Interest Law Coordinator for more information: lscs@lclark.edu.
• Consult the “Student Employment Evaluation” forms in the Career Services Resource Library for employer ideas. These are feedback forms completed by students about their law clerk experiences.
• Review state or local Bar Association websites to see if they list pro bono opportunities for attorneys. For example, the Oregon State Bar website lists pro bono opportunities for attorneys on its website and many of those organizations may also accept law student volunteers or clerks.
• Talk to other students - ask around to find out what public interest organizations students have clerked for.
• Get involved in PILP, the Lewis & Clark Public Interest Law Project. PILP fundraises to award summer public interest stipends for students to work at organizations that would not otherwise be able to afford a law clerk. PILP’s website contains a list of public interest organizations where students have clerked using their PILP stipends.
• Review the Externship page of the Career Services website. Employers who have taken unpaid externs may be willing to employ a law clerk.
• Attend Career Services panels and programs that include public interest attorneys. Introduce yourself to the attorneys and ask them about any clerking opportunities, with their organization or with other employers in the same field.
For additional information, set an appointment to meet with Bill Penn, the Public Interest Law Coordinator, by writing to wcpenn@lclark.edu
