Each summer, fall, and spring several promising law students are given the opportunity to be trained by top experts in animal law through the Animal Legal Defense Fund Clerkship Program.

If we are currently hiring clerks, postings can be found here.

Litigation Program Clerkships

Semester and summer positions are available in the Animal Legal Defense Fund Litigation Program, where the primary focus is on civil animal law issues. Clerks will complete legal research, work with Animal Legal Defense Fund’s litigation department in developing new cases, and learn how to prepare pleadings in cases currently handled by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Criminal Justice Program Clerkships

Summer positions are available with the Animal Legal Defense Fund Criminal Justice Program, where the primary focus is on criminal cases involving animal cruelty. Clerks will learn how to review cruelty reports, communicate with law enforcement officers, animal welfare investigators and prosecutors, assist in the development of proposed legislation, research a wide range of legal issues, and help draft pleadings and research memoranda. The primary focus of this clerkship is on criminal cases involving animal cruelty, but there will exposure to civil animal law issues as well.

Legislative Affairs Program Clerkship

Semester and summer positions are available with the Animal Legal Defense Fund Legislative Affairs Program. Clerks and interns will gain experience with and knowledge of animal protection issues, legislative campaigns, and advocacy, while improving skills in research, writing, coalition-building, and lobbying. They will be responsible for assisting the Legislative Affairs Program in developing and implementing strategies and resources to further legislative goals. The primary focus of this position will be on state legislative campaigns, but there will exposure to our federal and municipal work as well.

Pro Bono Program Clerkships

Semester and summer positions are available in the Animal Legal Defense Fund Pro Bono Program, where the primary focus is working to expand the practice and understanding of animal law in the legal community. Clerks will complete research on law firms, bar associations, CLEs, and various opportunities and issues in animal law.

Clerkship Terms

These are unpaid clerkships. There is a monthly stipend to assist clerks in paying for reasonable expenses, including room and board, gas, travel, and other expenses.

For part-time semester clerks, the stipend is $500 a month. Semester clerkships are part-time (8 hours a week), for a period of 3 months (approximately 12 weeks) each semester, with a flexible starting date (dependent upon the student’s schedule). Clerkships are for both semesters, not one or the other. Semester clerkships are remote. Clerkships are open to second and third-year students in good standing at ABA accredited institutions.

For full-time summer clerks, the stipend is $2,400 a month. Summer clerkships are full-time (35 hours a week), for a period of 3 months (approximately 10 weeks), with a flexible starting date (dependent upon the student’s schedule). Summer clerkships are open to second-year students only (rising third year students).

Litigation Program clerkships are located in Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Cotati, California office, and Criminal Justice Program clerkships are located in Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Portland, Oregon office.

Please reference the postings for individual clerkships for exact application due dates.

Two summer clerkships are generously funded by Mr. David Reuben, a long-time Animal Legal Defense Fund supporter, who shares our mission of protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system.