Legal Internship and Graduate Law Clerk Opportunities

Legal Intern Positions

The San Diego County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) offers volunteer Spring, Summer, and Fall Legal Internships for qualified students who are currently enrolled in an ABA accredited law school and in good academic standing. We invite you to come intern with DCSS to gain practical legal experience working with experienced child support attorneys. Spring and fall internships require a minimum of 16 hours per week and summer internships require a minimum of 25 hours per week. Duties and activities include:

  • Researching and drafting legal documents (examples include motion responses, points and authorities, legal memoranda, petitions, stipulations, ex-parte applications, et al.).
  • Communicating with parties and attorneys in child support actions to address issues before the court.
  • Preparing cases for upcoming court hearings.
  • Observing court hearings on issues related to paternity and child support. 
  • Other legal/department projects, as needed.

Interns who qualify and become certified through the State Bar of California’s Practical Training of Legal Students (PTLS) program and meet our internal department requirements, may be given the opportunity to appear in court on some cases. It is not a requirement of the internship program and there are no guarantees, but our program is driven toward that goal.

We are looking for individuals who are motivated, driven, and ideal team players to come work in a fast-paced yet rewarding environment where you will learn various aspects of child support law and litigation practice while helping children and families obtain much needed support. Research, writing, and good communication skills are desirable. Legal internships are unpaid positions, but school credit may be available if offered by your law school.

Applications are ongoing. Please email the completed Intern Application with a cover letter, resume, and current transcript to Melinda Cortes at _dcsshr@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Legal Internship Dates and Application Deadlines
*Applications may be accepted after the listed due dates. Please contact Rebecca Rider for more information.

Semester Internship Period  *Applications Due By
Spring 12-weeks minimum from early-to-mid January through mid-to-late April October 1
Summer

10-weeks minimum from mid-to-late May through early-to-mid August

 February 1
Fall 12-weeks minimum from mid-to-late August through mid-to-late November May 1

For more information, contact:

Melinda Cortes, Volunteer Coordinator
Department of Child Support Services
(619) 643-2891
_dcsshr@sdcounty.ca.gov

 

Graduate Law Clerk Positions

The San Diego County DCSS also offers paid full-time Graduate Law Clerk positions for qualified graduates (within the last 12 months) from an ABA accredited law school who are scheduled to take or have recently taken the California State Bar examination and are awaiting results.

We are looking for individuals who are motivated, driven, and ideal team players to come work in a fast-paced yet rewarding environment where you work with experienced child support attorneys in all aspects of child support law and litigation practice while helping children and families obtain much needed support.

The Graduate Law Clerk position pays a starting wage of $23.64 per hour and requires 40 hours per week.  Research, writing, and good communication skills are desirable.

Applications are ongoing. Please email the completed GLC Application with a cover letter, resume, and current transcript to Rebecca Rider at rebecca.rider@sdcounty.ca.gov.

For more information, contact: 

Rebecca Rider, Attorney
Department of Child Support Services
(858) 650-6448
rebecca.rider@sdcounty.ca.gov