Children's Law Center of California (CLC) represents children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned that come under the protection of the Los Angeles, Sacramento, or Placer County Juvenile Dependency Court systems. Children's Law Center was created by the Superior Court in 1990 to serve as appointed counsel for these Los Angeles youth. In July of 2011 we opened our doors in Sacramento County and now serve as appointed counsel for all abused and neglected children in both Los Angeles and Sacramento counties.
With a combined staff of nearly 600 lawyers, paralegals, and investigators, CLC represents all of the 25,000 children under the jurisdiction of these dependency courts.
CLC attorneys are committed to excellence in child advocacy and appear on behalf of children in day-to-day dependency proceedings. We also provide representation in a host of related hearings that seek to ensure the well being and future success of each child. CLC is often seen at the forefront of much needed local, state and national policy change and system reform.
Interns will assist attorneys with legal tasks such as case file management and court observation, while also supporting social work investigators with home visits and client interviews.
Additional duties include administrative support and participating in special policy-related projects.
What you need
Candidates should possess effective communication skills and a strong desire to learn about the child welfare field.
Applicants must be available for at least 8 hours per week and have access to reliable transportation for offsite travel.
Description
2027 SPRING INTERN: JOB SNAPSHOT
PLEASE SUBMIT A COVER LETTER WITH APPLICATION
Children's Law Center is now accepting applications for our Spring intern program. If you are a candidate seeking real-life, hands-on experience with our attorneys, social work investigators, and other CLC staff, this is a great opportunity for you!
Internship opportunities are open to applicants seeking academic credit through the program, as well as those who are simply looking to obtain some experience and insight into our organization's work and the larger child welfare field. Candidates of various education and work experience levels will be considered.
CLC will not consider current law students or practicing attorneys for the spring intern program.
Application Deadline: Friday November 20th, 2026
Requirements
Your Impact on the Mission – Excellence in Advocacy
Intern responsibilities may vary by assignment. They generally fall into three categories:
Legal
Under the direct supervision of an attorney, the Intern will assist with the following:
Conduct phone calls to clients.
Schedule client appointments.
Observe/take notes during court proceedings.
Accompany the attorney to client interviews; take notes.
Manage and organize electronic case files.
Complete standard judicial forms.
Other administrative tasks as needed.
Social Work
Attending home visits with CLC social work investigators and collaborating on report writing.
Communicating with clients and families on case-related matters under the supervision of a CLC employee.
Visit with clients, caretakers and others to develop a trusting and professional relationship with clients.
Interview caretakers and children, to the extent possible, to observe and document the children’s current living situation, developmental progress and emotional wellbeing.
Assist attorneys with client interviews.
Other
Special projects related to CLC policy work.
Sorting clothes and toys for our foster youth donation center.
Administrative support like filing, copying, etc.,
Assisting other CLC departments as needed.
Requirements
The Assets You Possess/Essential Qualifications
The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications and characteristics:
An enthusiastic attitude and desire to learn more about court- involved youth and their families.
Effective and respectful communication skills with children, teens, their families, and caregivers.
An ability to maintain professional and effective relationships with court personnel and coworkers.
Availability of at least 8 hours per week, in blocks of 4 hours. We ask that you be available 8 am – 12 pm and/or 1 pm – 4 pm. While the role may allow for some remote work opportunities, successful candidates must be able to come into the office as needed. Interns will also be required to complete a virtual orientation during the first week of onboarding.
Role may require travel offsite; candidates should have dependable means of transportation. If looking for a social work internship, dependable transportation is a requirement.
BENEFITS & COMPENSATION
The Spring Intern position is a temporary, unpaid position, designed to align with the academic calendars of local universities and colleges. CLC will work with successful candidates on appropriate arrangements with local universities and colleges regarding earning academic credit for time spent in the intern program, including tracking and verifying hours.
About CLC
CLC is the largest children's legal services organization in the nation, advocating for tens of thousands of children and youth in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Placer County foster care systems. We are a powerful voice for our clients, fighting in and out of the courtroom for family reunification, permanence, educational opportunity, health and mental health services, self-sufficiency, and overall well-being. We want all of California’s children to have the support they need to succeed. We work to accomplish this goal through direct legal representation for children, multidisciplinary advocacy and support, and public policy.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commitment : All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, individual with disability, medical condition, marital status, ancestry, military status, veteran status, protected veteran status, genetics or any other legally protected group status or non-job related characteristic of an individual as directed by law.
Equal Employment Opportunity—Reasonable Accommodation Assistance: Children’s Law Center of California is committed to maintaining an environment of equal opportunity. If you need a reasonable accommodation to access the information provided by this organization, please contact HRdepartment@clccal.org further assistance regarding job postings.
