LCCRSF 2026 Summer Law Clerks & Semester Externs
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF) is proud of our long tradition of hosting summer clerks and semester externs, a great early step in your law career. Come join us in 2026 for an exceptional learning experience with excellent direct service attorneys and litigators on the front lines of civil rights work.
About LCCRSF
As a leading civil rights organization on the West Coast, LCCRSF works to dismantle systems of oppression and to build an equitable, just society. Formed in 1968 to bridge the legal community and the Civil Rights Movement, we advance the rights of historically marginalized, immigrant, refugee, and low-income communities using an integrated model of direct service, advocacy, and impact litigation. Not only do we fight oppression and construct more just systems and institutions, but we grow the social justice movement by investing in legal fellows and training a network of over 1,000 active pro bono attorneys. Our community-driven work spurs statewide impact and sets national precedent.
Your Work
Law clerks and externs are an integral part of LCCRSF. Under the supervision of a senior attorney, summer law clerks and semester externs may prepare legal memoranda, conduct legal research, perform other litigation and advocacy related legal assignments, and conduct client interviews. Law clerks may have the opportunity to participate in direct legal services, impact litigation, and/or policy advocacy.
Applicants can visit our website for more information about each team’s focus areas. If you have a particular interest in a current project or issue area, please indicate this in your cover letter.
• The Immigrant Justice Program works with immigrants who face significant barriers to access to justice and due process by challenging unjust systems. The Program’s strategy provides direct representation to asylum seekers and engages in impact litigation to end inhumane immigrant detention. To facilitate client-centered service, we encourage applicants who are fluent in written and spoken Spanish to apply for the Immigrant Justice Program.
• The Racial Justice Program leads impact litigation and policy advocacy that directly support the people and movements fighting for an end to police brutality and violent police practices, criminalization of poverty, and governmental practices that extract wealth from low-income communities of color in the Bay Area.
• The Economic Justice Program works to advance economic justice to close the racial wealth gap and empower historically marginalized communities in building and sustaining wealth by providing direct legal services through Legal Services for
Entrepreneurs, which works with low-income and marginalized entrepreneurs who are starting or have existing businesses, and by advocating for policies and campaigns that support local business ownership by historically marginalized communities and community-guided economic development. Our Protecting Racial Equity project provides essential legal tools, training, and support to sustain race-conscious work in the evolving legal landscape.
Qualifications:
• Current law student.
o [For Racial Justice Program]: Rising 3L only
• Understanding of and commitment to LCCRSF’s mission
• Experience and/or a demonstrated commitment to racial justice, civil rights, and/or social justice organizing
o [For Racial Justice Program] Experience with state or federal court civil litigation preferred
• Located in the San Francisco Bay Area preferred with ability to be in person occasionally for client work or meetings
Law clerks may be considered in the future for post-graduate fellowships at LCCRSF, including sponsorship for fellowships such as Skadden, Equal Justice works, and Justice Catalyst.
Summer law clerks are ordinarily expected to work 35 to 40 hours per week for 10 weeks. The Summer 2026 program will begin Tuesday, May 26 and conclude Friday, August 7 so that all law clerks can start and end with their cohort.
Semester externs commit to 10 to 15 hours/week for 15 weeks. The Spring 2026 externship will be February - May.
LCCRSF will provide a $7,500 stipend for summer clerks. Applicants are also welcome to seek additional external funding from their law schools or outside sources if they choose to do so. Semester externs are unpaid.
We’re currently remote with our Embarcadero office available as needed. You should expect to come into the office at least once a week.
Working Environment and Conditions
The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this position, the employee must be able to remain in a stationary position, constantly operate a computer, and must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
To Apply
Positions are open until filled and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants should submit 1) a thoughtful cover letter; 2) a resume; 3) short writing sample no more than 5 pages; and 4) three references using the below links:
Spring 2026 Extern
Summer 2026 Law Clerk
Please indicate in your cover letter if there is a specific team you’d like to work with. If you are open to either spring or summer placement, apply to your first choice. There will be a place to indicate you’d like to also be considered for the other session. Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible as decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area thrives as an inclusive/equal opportunity employer. People of all backgrounds and walks of life are encouraged to apply.
