The Position

Law Clerk Summer Intern – Unpaid
The City
The City of Santa Rosa is currently seeking an exceptional candidate for an unpaid law clerk internship where you can be part of a dynamic, diverse, and knowledgeable organization committed to excellence in serving a thriving community. This position is a great opportunity to see how local government works and learn the important role of a government attorney in advancing the goals of the elected officials and appointed department heads.

The Department
The Santa Rosa City Attorney’s Office is comprised of highly-skilled attorneys. It is a collegial and forward-looking office, highly regarded by local judges, public and private attorneys, the City Council and City employees.

The City Attorney’s Office invites law school students to apply for the opportunity to intern under experienced public law attorneys serving a variety of roles. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual with a strong interest in public service to gain experience with municipal law issues and play an important role in providing key services for our City and community.

Candidates will be considered based on, among other things, oral communication and writing skills, proficiency in legal research and interest in public service. While we are looking for a summer intern, start and end dates are flexible.

Interns do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most employee benefits such as: long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation and sick leave; participation in the City’s CalPERS retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional positions.Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

The Position
The Santa Rosa City Attorney’s Office is a fast-paced environment in which public law attorneys take on innovative projects in numerous areas of the law. Examples of projects that an intern may be involved with include:
 

• Working closely with the City’s planning team to research, analyze, and propose legislation and local policies to help advance the City Council’s priorities for addressing housing needs and climate resilience in the City of Santa Rosa. Assisting in the evaluation of proposed projects under the California Environmental Quality Act, Subdivision Map Act, Planning and Zoning Law, and the City Code. Conducting research, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing draft documents related to affordable housing, environmental planning, transportation, urban design, and code enforcement. 
•  Supporting the City Attorney’s Office in providing general municipal law advice and assistance, including reviewing City Council agendas and staff reports, conflicts of interest issues, public records act requests, and other City policy documents.
•  Providing transactional support and advice to City departments, including drafting and assisting with review, negotiation, interpretation and administration of City contracts.
•  Attending and assisting with preparation for City Council and departmental meetings, gaining valuable insight into City operations and policy development at the local level. 
• Conducting legal research on constitutional and administrative law issues.
•  Assisting litigation attorneys in preparation of motions and discovery in civil and criminal matters, potentially to include demurrers, discovery motions, and motions for summary judgment in civil matters, and, in criminal proceedings, oppositions to Pitchess/Brady motions seeking disclosure of police officers’ confidential personnel files, and motions to prevent the return of firearms seized during arrests. The intern may also be asked to assist in trial preparation including document organization, summaries of witness testimony, pre-trial filing and motions. Finally, the intern may be asked to do legal research and prepare memoranda on a variety of substantive and procedural topics. When possible, the intern will be invited to accompany attorneys to depositions and court appearances. 

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience:  Enrollment in an accredited law school.  Law students must be available a minimum of 30 hours per week and establish a regular schedule in the office during the internship. Additional Information

 INFORMATION TO SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION:
 
Please submit the following documents along with your application: 

• A cover letter explaining why you are interested in this internship and municipal law 
• A resume or CV
• A copy of your law school transcript
• A writing sample
• Academic/work references.

To complete an application, please click HERE.